Retrospective targeted HCV lookback using centralized contracted notification service.

BACKGROUND: Mandated HCV 2.0 lookback significantly challenged the human and financial resources available to the six Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) hospital blood banks. To comply with FDA requirements, DHS developed a centralized process that utilized the services of a contract vendor for performing HCV lookback. STUDY DESIGN AND METHOD: A DHS public health nurse acted as HCV lookback coordinator and as liaison with the vendor. Cases were electronically forwarded to the vendor, who then reviewed the patient's chart to obtain information necessary for tracking the patient through commercial databases. The vendor was responsible for notifying the recipient for pretest counseling and for providing documentation of all efforts. RESULTS: In total, 411 recipients were identified, of which, 168 cases were completed by the hospitals, 243 were forwarded to the vendor, 50 percent were deceased, 21 percent were contacted, and 28 percent could not be contacted, and 1 percent could not be located on any databases. The vendor contacted 35 of 66 cases that the hospitals had unsuccessfully attempted to contact. Of the cases forwarded to the vendor, 82 percent were completed on time. Delays were attributable to the vendor in less than 2 percent of cases. The cost per case forwarded to the vendor was 322 US dollars. CONCLUSION: Utilizing a professional service to conduct HCV recipient notifications is an effective strategy for meeting FDA deadlines and for freeing transfusion service staff to perform critical functions. It remains to be seen whether such strategies offer a cost savings.