Global HCV & Syphilis Trends: Bridging Gaps in Access to Testing and Treatment

PLACEHOLDER

min read

May 12, 2025

The global landscape of infectious diseases continues to evolve, and recent updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) point to important progress, particularly in testing uptake and treatment access for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis. These developments are encouraging, yet challenges remain. At bioLytical, our commitment is to ensure that fast, accurate, and accessible testing is available to meet changing global needs, especially in high-burden, under-resourced regions.

Testing Uptake Is Rising—But Equity Gaps Persist

According to the 2024 WHO Global Hepatitis Report, an estimated 50 million people were living with chronic HCV infection as of 2022 (WHO, 2024). Of these, 36% had been diagnosed, and 20% had received curative treatment, reflecting incremental progress toward global targets (WHO, 2024). Testing coverage is improving in several regions through national action plans and integrated testing models. In sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, point-of-care testing has helped expand reach, but many people remain undiagnosed due to stigma, cost, and a lack of healthcare infrastructure and reduced access.

For syphilis, particularly congenital syphilis, global health organizations have raised alarms. Despite increased antenatal screening coverage, WHO estimates that in 2022, there were 700,000 congenital syphilis cases globally. These cases led to an estimated 150,000 early fetal deaths and stillbirths, 70,000 neonatal deaths, 55,000 pre-term or low-birth weight births, and 115,000 infants with a clinical diagnosis of congenital syphilis (WHO, 2024).

These are troubling statistics given that mother-to-child transmission is preventable with early testing and treatment (WHO, 2025). In addition, key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people, and sex workers still experience lower testing rates due to discrimination and limited outreach services.

At bioLytical, we focus on developing rapid point-of-care tools that are easy to use, portable, and highly accurate. These tools break down barriers to access and allow healthcare workers to reach more people where they are.

HCV Treatment Scale-Up: Progress with Gaps

The WHO has set a bold target to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Countries like Egypt have become models for national testing and treatment scale-up, achieving millions of screenings and linking patients to free or subsidized treatment through public initiatives. In 2023, Egypt became the first country to achieve the gold tier status in eliminating hepatitis C infection. Countries such as China, India, and Pakistan have also made recent political commitments, policy updates, and have begun local production of hepatitis medicine, helping to position their hepatitis response (WHO, 2024).

Without a simple diagnostic pathway, many at-risk individuals never get tested, and treatment programs lose efficacy. That’s why community-led testing and same-day results are essential. Tools like the INSTI® HCV Antibody Test are designed to support decentralized testing strategies, particularly in outreach programs and remote communities.

Syphilis: A Re-Emerging Threat

While HIV and HCV receive much of the global focus on infectious diseases, syphilis is resurging worldwide, especially in high-income countries. Countries such as Canada and the UK have seen increases in syphilis and congenital syphilis rates (Health Canada, 2025; UK Government, 2024).

In the U.S., syphilis rates increased by over 80% between 2018 and 2022, and more than 3,700 babies were born with congenital syphilis in 2022 (CDC, 2023). Globally, WHO reports that 8 million adults are newly infected yearly (WHO, 2024).

Dual HIV/syphilis rapid tests are an excellent tool that help diagnose both infections with a single sample, such as the INSTI® Multiplex HIV-1/2 Antibody Test. These rapid duo tests are also excellent for antenatal care, helping connect more people to immediate care and treatment.

Our Role: Innovation with Impact

At bioLytical, our response is rooted in innovation that matches field realities. We are actively expanding our rapid test portfolio to meet global health priorities.

Our INSTI® and iStatis platforms support public health goals across various regions. They offer rapid results with tests that are portable, shelf-stable, and require no lab equipment or extensive training. This makes them ideal for remote clinics, mobile testing events, and frontline health workers. We collaborate with ministries of health, NGOs, and global bodies to ensure our products are integrated into community-led testing strategies.

As we work toward global targets for 2030, closing the gap between diagnosis and care has never been more urgent. Making testing accessible is the first step where we can have the biggest impact.

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