The Victorian Department of Health has identified a cluster of hepatitis C cases among patients treated by a medical professional in Melbourne. A clear risk has been established for patients treated by the doctor at Croydon Day Surgery between August 2008 and August 2009 but the doctor had worked at the clinic from 2006 to 2009. If a patient who has had a procedure at Croydon Day Surgery between 2006 and mid-December 2009 wishes to have a blood test before being contacted by the Department of Health, please test this patient through your usual pathology process and advise the Department if any positive results are identified and indicate that this is a Croydon Day Surgery patient. The diagnosis of hepatitis C infection is confirmed by testing for hepatitis C virus antibody and PCR to detect viral RNA.

New 21st May
A further update on the Hepatitis C look-back currently being conducted by the department of health on the hepatitis C cluster associated with the Croydon Clinic.
Hepatitis C Cluster updated information

Other documents including previous alerts and patient information are available at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/chiefhealthofficer/alerts/hep_c_2010.htm

If GPs or patients have any questions, please contact the call centre on 1300 365 677 from 8 am to 10 pm