New HCV Test is Fast, Cost-Effective

A new, cost-effective 1-step test effectively screens for, detects, and confirms hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and has significantly improved sensitivity over current, slower, more-expensive tests.

Using urine samples, the new test can distinguish between active and inactive infections, unlike current, blood-based tests that require a second step to determine the status of the infection. The 1-step test could also significantly reduce the >$200 average cost of current HCV antigen tests.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
New Antiviral Drug Regimen Highly Effective Against Hep C
Study Suggests Rates of Hep C Infection Are Underestimated
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"The ability to detect infection using urine rather than blood avoids needle stick and blood sample collection, greatly reduces the cost and necessary clinical infrastructure for screening and diagnosis, helping to promote widespread adoption of the test on a global scale," researchers wrote.

"Finding a more convenient, easy-to-use and cost-effective screening alternative is imperative, because HCV is significantly under-screened and under-diagnosed," they concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:
University of California – Irvine. One-step test for hepatitis C virus infection developed by UC Irvine Health researchers [press release]. November 14, 2015. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/uoc--otf111215.php.