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Introduction To be eligible for government-provided treatment in Brazil, all HCV-infected individuals are required to be genotyped shortly after diagnosis. We describe the HCV genotype (G) profiles by geographic region, gender, age and HIV co-infection. Methods We assessed 29,071 genotypes collected from HCV-infected individuals from March 2016 to March 2018 (Abbott Real-Time HCV Genotype). We randomly selected 12,336 samples for HIV co-infection testing using an EIA rapid test kit (TR DPP HIV 1/2 Bio-Manguinhos). Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using R. Results Overall, HCV genotype distribution was 40.9% G1A, 30.2% G1B, 23.8% G3, 3.8% G2, 0.7% G4, 0.1% G5 and 0.6% with multiples genotypes. G1A prevalence was 44.4% among males and 35.8% among females. G1B and G2 were more prevalent in older individuals than G1A and G3. G3 was more prevalent in the South region. Of samples tested for HIV co-infection, 15% were HIV+. Median age among HCV/HIV co-infected individuals was 50 years old compared to 57 years old among mono-infected individuals. Distinct HCV genotype prevalence between HCV/HIV co-infected and HCV mono-infected individuals were respectively: G1A 60.6% versus 37.8%, G1B 15.2% versus 32.9%, and G3 18.9% versus 24.7%. G4 was detected among co-infected young men (3.5% versus 0.2% among mono-infected). Conclusion The increasing prevalence of G3, as inferred by the younger ages of the HCV-infected individuals, poses an extra challenge with regards to disease progression. Distinct genotypical profiles between HCV mono-infection and HCV/HIV co-infection warrant future research in order to better understand and help mitigate HCV chains of transmission.

Objective: To analyze the pattern of spatial distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) cases and the mortality attributed to this disease throughout the Brazilian territory, in 2005, 2016 and 2017. Methods: This is an ecological study of spatial analysis, using data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases and the Brazilian Mortality Information System. HBV detection and mortality rates were analyzed. The spatial analysis from 2005 to 2017 was held through the Global Moran’s Index (I) for global data and the Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) for the 5,564 municipalities of the country. Results: The North region stands out with the highest HBV detection and mortality rates in the country. The Global Moran’s I showed a spatial correlation of HBV cases in Brazil, and the LISA Map evidenced the presence of hotspots or spatial clusters (high-high type), mainly in the North region and also in some municipalities of Santa Catarina, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Espírito Santo, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Conclusion: The spatial analysis of the HBV distribution pattern in Brazil shows areas with a large concentration of cases, particularly in the North of the country and in other points distributed throughout the national territory. These data reinforce the urgency of intervention actions related to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B. RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar o padrão de distribuição espacial dos casos de hepatite causada pelo vírus B (HBV) e a mortalidade atribuída a esse agravo em todo o território nacional, nos anos de 2005, 2016 e 2017. Métodos : Trata-se de um estudo ecológico de análise espacial, utilizando dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação e do Sistema Nacional de Mortalidade. Analisaram-se as taxas de detecção e mortalidade de HBV. A análise espacial no período de 2005 a 2017 foi realizada por meio do Índice Global de Moran para os dados globais e dos Indicadores Locais de Associação Espacial (Lisa) para os 5.564 municípios do país. Resultados : A região Norte destaca-se pelas maiores taxas de detecção e mortalidade de HBV do país. O Índice Global de Moran revelou uma correlação espacial dos casos de HBV no Brasil, e o Lisa Map evidenciou a presença de bolsões (tipo high-high), principalmente na região Norte e também em alguns municípios de Santa Catarina, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Espírito Santo, São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro. Conclusão : A análise espacial do padrão de distribuição do HBV no Brasil revela áreas com grande concentração de casos, particularmente no Norte do país e em outros pontos distribuídos pelo território nacional. Esses dados reforçam a urgência de ações de intervenção relativas a prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento da hepatite B.

The National Network for CD4+ T-lymphocyte counting of Brazil comprises 93 laboratories. This study reports the laboratory performances achieved in external quality assessment (EQA) rounds provides by Ministry of Health to evaluate the quality of the kits used and the performance of test by the technicians. Ten EQA rounds were analyzed according the EQA criteria aimed to evaluate individual laboratory performance on the basis of the accuracy of their results compared to the general mean obtained by all participating laboratories and the reproducibility of the results obtained between 2 samples from the same donor. The percentage of approved and failed laboratories in the EQAs tends to follow a uniform pattern. Since 2011, approval has remained above 80% and the failure rate has never exceeded 15%. EQA is very important to evaluate the performance of the laboratories, to identify monitor, and to resolve errors as quickly as possible.