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.