Blood borne virus (BBV) testing in our Emergency Departments (ED)

From March 2025, if you're over 18 and have a blood test in the Emergency Departments at Broomfield, Southend or Basildon hospital, we will check to see if you have a blood borne virus (BBV). The viruses we'll test for are HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

It is an 'opt-out' test, meaning we will screen blood tests from everyone over 18 unless you tell us not to. This testing is part of an NHS project to detect people living with these viruses in areas of the country where HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are most common.

The project has been running for people having blood tests in other parts of the UK, like London, Manchester and Brighton, since 2022 and is designed to detect people living with the viruses, offer them treatment and save lives.

If you want to find out more about testing for these viruses outside of our EDs, visit our sexual health services page.

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Do treatments help for those diagnosed with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C?

  • HIV can be managed with daily tablets, these antiretroviral medicines work by stopping the virus replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and prevent further damage.
  • If diagnosed early enough, people with HIV can live a long and healthy life.
  • Hepatitis C can be cured with a simple course of tablets.
  • Hepatitis B always needs long term monitoring and only sometimes needs treatment, to control the virus, with long term antiviral tablets.
  • Ignoring hepatitis B and C can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
  1. Emergency Dep Routine Testing for HIV, Hep B and Hep C

Contact us

If you have any questions, you can call us on 0300 443 0174 or email mse.edbbv.screening@nhs.net between Monday and Friday, 9am to 5pm.