Hepatitis CNCT06409169
DBS TaT in Peer-assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C
A study testing DBS TaT in people with Hepatitis C, run by Oregon Health and Science University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of treatment initiation achieved by peer-assisted telemedicine contingent on phlebotomy (usual care) versus that achieved with a new protocol, called Dried Blood Spot Test and Treat (DBS TaT). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Hepatitis C
- What is being tested?
- DBS TaT
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 141 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Jan 2025to 8 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Active hepatitis C infection
- Willing to engaged with the PATHS program for clinical care
Who cannot join
- Currently pregnant
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon, 97239
About this study
Official title: Dried Blood Spot Testing in Peer-assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C Treatment
The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of treatment initiation achieved by peer-assisted telemedicine contingent on phlebotomy (usual care) versus that achieved with a new protocol, called Dried Blood Spot Test and Treat (DBS TaT). DBS TaT includes DBS testing to diagnose hepatitis C (HCV), utilizes a novel clinical decision aid that identifies patients who are low risk for hepatic (liver) fibrosis, and directs those patients to HCV treatment initiation prior to routine hepatic fibrosis assessment.
The investigators hypothesize that DBS TaT will increase the rate of HCV treatment initiation compared to peer-assisted telemedicine contingent on phlebotomy (usual care).
Read the detailed description
Oregon has the fourth highest prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) and third highest HCV-related mortality in the nation and it predominantly effects people who use drugs (PWUD). To respond to this, Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C (PATHS), a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supported telemedicine-based HCV treatment program that serve PWUD in predominantly rural areas of Oregon was created. PATHS partners with "peers," people with lived experience of substance use, who work for community-based organizations serving PWUD in high-needs rural counties. Patients are referred to PATHS from opiate treatment programs and community-based organizations throughout the state, which are PATHS' "sites."
The leading barrier to HCV treatment initiation within PATHS is the requirement for participants to complete phlebotomy prior to treatment. To address this problem, PATHS is piloting the use of commercially available, laboratory-validated dried blood spot (DBS) tests to confirm active HCV, but patients who complete DBS must still undergo either phlebotomy or transient elastography (TEG) to complete guideline-recommended hepatic fibrosis staging before HCV treatment. Transient elastography is a validated, non-invasive, clinical standard of hepatic fibrosis assessment covered by Oregon Medicaid, but it is inconvenient to access in rural areas.
This study aims to determine the impact of Dried Blood Spot Test and Treat (DBS TaT) compared to phlebotomy-contingent treatment (usual care) in a cluster randomized controlled trial performed within Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C (PATHS). The primary outcome is the rate of treatment initiation in PATHS sites utilizing DBS TaT versus PATHS sites utilizing usual care. 18 PATHS sites are randomized to DBS TaT implementation or ongoing usual care. Within DBS TaT, participants with low risk for hepatic fibrosis will be offered HCV treatment without phlebotomy but will still undergo imaging-based hepatic fibrosis assessment to ensure safety.
- Conditions
- Hepatitis C
- Being tested
- DBS TaT, Usual Care
- Keywords
- Hepatitis C, Substance Use
- Medical subject headings
- Hepatitis C, Substance-Related Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
DBS TaTOther
Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing for HCV DCHEQ and Baseline Surveys If at high risk for liver fibrosis, blood draw prior to treatment initiation If low risk for liver fibrosis, Telemedicine visit with PATHS provider HCV treatment initiation Transient elastography (TEG)
Usual CareOther
Point-of-care or DBS testing for HCV Blood draw to test liver fibrosis DCHEQ and Baseline Surveys Telemedicine visit with PATHS provider HCV treatment initiation Transient elastography (TEG)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| DBS TaT | Experimental | At DBS TaT sites, peers administer dried blood spot tests to all those interested in HCV screening or treatment. When HCV is diagnosed, peers coordinate a telemedicine visit with a PATHS provider and peer. At the time of the telemedicine visit, a questionnaire, Decompensated Cirrhosis in Hepatitis C Evaluation Questionnaire (DCHEQ), is used to determine risk level of liver fibrosis (liver scaring that is sometimes caused by hepatitis C). Those at low risk for liver fibrosis can start HCV treatment before completing the usual tests for liver fibrosis. Those at high risk for liver fibrosis will be directed to receive a confirmatory blood draw at a local laboratory prior to treatment initiation. Participants will complete transient elastography after treatment initiation. Receives: Other: DBS TaT |
| Usual Care | Active comparator | At usual care sites, participants either self-report a known history of untreated HCV or undergo peer-performed point-of-care HCV antibody testing or DBS for HCV testing. Peers take those with positive results to local laboratories for a confirmatory blood draw prior to treatment initiation, the results of which are received and managed by PATHS providers. When active HCV is diagnosed, PATHS staff coordinate on-demand telemedicine visits with peers and participants, during which PATHS clinicians recommend treatment. Participants will complete transient elastography after treatment initiation. Receives: Other: Usual Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
HCV Treatment Initiation
Rate of hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation in sites utilizing DBS TaT versus sites utilizing usual care.
Measured: 12 weeks after diagnosis of HCV
Secondary outcomes (2)
HCV Cure
Rate of hepatitis C (HCV) cure in sites utilizing DBS TaT versus sites utilizing usual care tested within 24 weeks of treatment initiation.
Measured: 24 weeks after treatment completion
Time from HCV Diagnosis to Treatment Initiation
Time from diagnosis of HCV to HCV treatment initiation
Measured: 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 May 2024
- Study start22 Jan 2025
- Primary completion8 Jan 2026
- Study completion8 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hepatitis CStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Oregon Health and Science UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 141 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Oregon Health and Science University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Collins Medical Trust
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hunter Spencer, Oregon Health and Science University
- Investigators
- Hunter Spencer, DO, Principal investigator, Oregon Health and Science University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06409169
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00026983
- Other IDs
- KL2TR002370
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 7 May 2024
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Dried Blood Spot Testing in Peer-assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C Treatment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06409169
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00026983
- Conditions
- Hepatitis C
- Keywords
- Hepatitis C, Substance Use
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 141 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Oregon Health and Science UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Collins Medical Trust
- Study start
- 22 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 May 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of treatment initiation achieved by peer-assisted telemedicine contingent on phlebotomy (usual care) versus that achieved with a new protocol, called Dried Blood Spot Test and Treat (DBS TaT). DBS TaT includes DBS testing to diagnose hepatitis C (HCV), utilizes a novel clinical decision aid that identifies patients who are low risk for hepatic (liver) fibrosis, and directs those patients to HCV treatment initiation prior to routine hepatic fibrosis assessment.
The investigators hypothesize that DBS TaT will increase the rate of HCV treatment initiation compared to peer-assisted telemedicine contingent on phlebotomy (usual care).
Detailed description
Oregon has the fourth highest prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) and third highest HCV-related mortality in the nation and it predominantly effects people who use drugs (PWUD). To respond to this, Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C (PATHS), a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supported telemedicine-based HCV treatment program that serve PWUD in predominantly rural areas of Oregon was created. PATHS partners with "peers," people with lived experience of substance use, who work for community-based organizations serving PWUD in high-needs rural counties. Patients are referred to PATHS from opiate treatment programs and community-based organizations throughout the state, which are PATHS' "sites."
The leading barrier to HCV treatment initiation within PATHS is the requirement for participants to complete phlebotomy prior to treatment. To address this problem, PATHS is piloting the use of commercially available, laboratory-validated dried blood spot (DBS) tests to confirm active HCV, but patients who complete DBS must still undergo either phlebotomy or transient elastography (TEG) to complete guideline-recommended hepatic fibrosis staging before HCV treatment. Transient elastography is a validated, non-invasive, clinical standard of hepatic fibrosis assessment covered by Oregon Medicaid, but it is inconvenient to access in rural areas.
This study aims to determine the impact of Dried Blood Spot Test and Treat (DBS TaT) compared to phlebotomy-contingent treatment (usual care) in a cluster randomized controlled trial performed within Peer Assisted Telemedicine for Hepatitis C (PATHS). The primary outcome is the rate of treatment initiation in PATHS sites utilizing DBS TaT versus PATHS sites utilizing usual care. 18 PATHS sites are randomized to DBS TaT implementation or ongoing usual care. Within DBS TaT, participants with low risk for hepatic fibrosis will be offered HCV treatment without phlebotomy but will still undergo imaging-based hepatic fibrosis assessment to ensure safety.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| DBS TaT | Experimental | Other: DBS TaTAt DBS TaT sites, peers administer dried blood spot tests to all those interested in HCV screening or treatment. When HCV is diagnosed, peers coordinate a telemedicine visit with a PATHS provider and peer. At the time of the telemedicine visit, a questionnaire, Decompensated Cirrhosis in Hepatitis C Evaluation Questionnaire (DCHEQ), is used to determine risk level of liver fibrosis (liver scaring that is sometimes caused by hepatitis C). Those at low risk for liver fibrosis can start HCV treatment before completing the usual tests for liver fibrosis. Those at high risk for liver fibrosis will be directed to receive a confirmatory blood draw at a local laboratory prior to treatment initiation. Participants will complete transient elastography after treatment initiation. |
| Usual Care | Active comparator | Other: Usual CareAt usual care sites, participants either self-report a known history of untreated HCV or undergo peer-performed point-of-care HCV antibody testing or DBS for HCV testing. Peers take those with positive results to local laboratories for a confirmatory blood draw prior to treatment initiation, the results of which are received and managed by PATHS providers. When active HCV is diagnosed, PATHS staff coordinate on-demand telemedicine visits with peers and participants, during which PATHS clinicians recommend treatment. Participants will complete transient elastography after treatment initiation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Active hepatitis C infection
- Willing to engaged with the PATHS program for clinical care
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Currently pregnant
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| DBS TaTDried Blood Spot (DBS) testing for HCV DCHEQ and Baseline Surveys If at high risk for liver fibrosis, blood draw prior to treatment initiation If low risk for liver fibrosis, Telemedicine visit with PATHS provider HCV treatment initiation Transient elastography (TEG) | Other | DBS TaT |
| Usual CarePoint-of-care or DBS testing for HCV Blood draw to test liver fibrosis DCHEQ and Baseline Surveys Telemedicine visit with PATHS provider HCV treatment initiation Transient elastography (TEG) | Other | Usual Care |
Primary outcome
HCV Treatment Initiation
Time frame: 12 weeks after diagnosis of HCV
Rate of hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation in sites utilizing DBS TaT versus sites utilizing usual care.
2 secondary outcomes
HCV Cure
Time frame: 24 weeks after treatment completion
Time from HCV Diagnosis to Treatment Initiation
Time frame: 12 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
Related trials for Hepatitis C
RecruitingObservational study
Evaluation of Patients With Liver Disease
Hepatitis D, Hepatitis C
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus Among Users of Substances
Hepatitis C in Substance Users
Not yet recruiting
Clinical Study to Evaluate the Performance of the INSTI® HCV Antibody Test for CLIA-Waived Use
HCV Infection
Not yet recruiting
Study to Evaluate the Performance of the INSTI® HCV Antibody Test for Point-of-Care Use in Individuals at Risk for HCV Infection or Presenting With Signs or Symptoms of HCV Infection
HCV Infection
Active, not recruitingPhase 4
People With CHC Who Achieved a Sustained Virological Response Following Therapy With Direct Acting Antiviral Agents
Diabetes Mellitus, Hepatitis C, Chronic
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Hunter Spencer, DO principal investigator
Oregon Health and Science University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing DBS TaT in people with Hepatitis C, run by Oregon Health and Science University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
HCV Treatment Initiation (time frame: 12 weeks after diagnosis of HCV). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.