New Diagnostic Hepatitis C Assay Extends Effectiveness of Serology Panel

Clinical diagnosis of HCV is difficult largely due to the high rate of asymptomatic infections, making improved screening assays of major importance.

The new generation Elecsys anti-HCV II assay, developed by the research-based pharmaceuticals and diagnostics leader Roche (Basel, Switzerland), has been added to the Roche serology panel, optimizing workflows, saving costs, and providing more accurate, rapid results. The serology panel includes assays for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, TORCH, Herpes, Syphilis, and other infectious diseases.

HCV remains a major public health problem, and HCV-related end stage liver disease and mortality continue to increase. In the UK, for example, an estimated 216,000 individuals are chronically infected. The new Elecsys anti-HCV II assay can play an effective role in strategies for addressing this public health concern as it is used to demonstrate the presence of antibodies against HCV during acute and chronic stages of disease, and after a passed infection.

Elecsys anti-HCV II provides 100% clinical sensitivity for all known genotypes. In addition, with high specificity in blood donors (99.84%) and samples from clinical routine, pregnant women, and dialysis patients, use of Elecsys anti-HCV II increases laboratory testing efficiencies. To optimize workflows and provide operational cost savings, the ready-to-use liquid reagents have a long onboard stability of 31 days on all Roche immunoassay platforms.

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