Should patients be screened for hepatitis B/C prior to starting a conventional synthetic DMARD such as methotrexate?

If you are even thinking about it, YES!!!!

AASLD suggests HBV screening when contemplating immunosuppression with HBsAg, anti-HBcore, and anti-HBs for immunization status (separate issue).

HCV-Ab should be done at the same time as I have advocated for many years, but now, the practice is catching up ...