Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2026; 32(48): 121052
Published online Dec 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121052
Published online Dec 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121052
Testing for hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus/hepatitis D virus: Current scenarios and perspectives in Italy
Francesca Colapietro, Stefano Fagiuoli, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation Division, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo 24121, Lombardy, Italy
Maurizia Rossana Brunetto, Hepatology Unit and Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Pathology of Hepatitis, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa 56121, Tuscany, Italy
Nicola Coppola, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80138, Campania, Italy
Pietro Lampertico, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granada Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano 20122, Lombardy, Italy
Co-first authors: Francesca Colapietro and Maurizia Rossana Brunetto.
Author contributions: Colapietro F and Brunetto MR contributed equally to this study as co-first authors; Brunetto MR, Coppola N, Fagiuoli S, and Lampertico P contributed equally to the conception and design of the article; and Colapietro F, Brunetto MR, Coppola N, Fagiuoli S, and Lampertico P contributed to manuscript editing and approved the final version for submission.
AI contribution statement: No AI tools or generative AI technologies were used in the preparation, writing, and analysis of this manuscript. The authors critically reviewed all suggested changes and take full responsibility for the final content.
Supported by an Unrestricted Grant from Gilead Sciences, Italy.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Francesca Colapietro: None; Maurizia Rossana Brunetto received grants for Advisory/speaker’s bureau from AbbVie, Gilead, GSK, Roche, EISAI- MSD, Astra Zeneca, Ipsen; Nicola Coppola received grants for Speaker's bureau & advisory from Gilead, Abbvie, ViiV Healthcare, Janssen-Cilag, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Correvio, MSD, Angelini, GSK, Astrazeneca; Stefano Fagiuoli received grants for Speaker's bureau & advisory from Gilead, Abbvie, Novartis, Eisai, Roche, MSD, Astra Zeneca, Kedrion, Advanz; Pietro Lampertico received grants for Advisory Board/Speaker Bureau from: Roche Pharma/Diagnostics, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Abbvie, Janssen, Myr, Eiger, Antios, Aligos, Vir, Grifols, Altona, Roboscreen.
Corresponding author: Stefano Fagiuoli, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation Division, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Piazza dell ‘Ateneo Nuovo 1, Bergamo 24121, Lombardy, Italy. sfagiuoli@asst-pg23.it
Received: March 20, 2026
Revised: May 27, 2026
Accepted: October 20, 2026
Published online: December 28, 2026
Processing time: 228 Days and 18.9 Hours
Revised: May 27, 2026
Accepted: October 20, 2026
Published online: December 28, 2026
Processing time: 228 Days and 18.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Italy has achieved hepatitis B control targets but still faces major gaps in hepatitis C virus elimination and hepatitis D virus underdiagnosis. This expert-opinion review highlights structural and organisational barriers to testing, including fragmented screening strategies and a lack of integrated pathways. It discusses evidence-supported approaches, such as targeted opportunistic screening and reflex testing, alongside expert-opinion proposals including centralised reporting and linkage-to-care models.