Image credit- drlpl.com
A group of researchers at the Institut Pasteur and Inserm in France have partnered with UK-based firm genedrive for the development and validation of a rapid, point-of-care (POC) assay for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The new diagnostic test is intended to allow early treatment for patients suffering from hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by the virus and characterised by complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The new assay initially tests for specific HCV antibodies, followed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to identify HCV RNA in the blood in order to confirm the presence or absence of a chronic infection.
A miniaturised, less expensive device is employed for the PCR and can analyse 40 successive reaction cycles. The new assay is expected to cater to even countries with limited resources and delivers results in around one hour.
