Hepatitis C Positive Antibody Test Leads to Molecular Assay
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 18 Jan 2016 |
|
Image: Histopathology of chronic viral hepatitis C, necrosis and inflammation are prominent (Photo courtesy of University of Utah).
Conventional laboratory and medical practice for Hepatitis C virus infection involves referring a patient for a second office visit and blood draw if the initial antibody screening test produces a positive result.
A hepatitis C screening test identifies viral antibodies while a molecular test identifies viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) when the infection is active. In some people, the immune system clears hepatitis C infection on its own, but antibodies may linger in the blood for decades. As a result, a positive antibody screening test can signify resolved or active infection, and as much as 3% of antibody screens produce a false positive.
Quest Diagnostics (Madison, NJ, USA) will automatically perform molecular testing on all patient specimens whose antibody screening results indicate Hepatitis C virus infection, and remove standalone positive antibody screening as a test option. The change to the company’s service menu eliminates the prospect a patient may receive a positive screening result but fail to undergo additional molecular testing, as recommended by medical guidelines, to help confirm a diagnosis of active hepatitis C infection, the cause of chronic hepatitis C.
With the change to the Quest menu, any specimen that an antibody screening test indicates is positive will automatically reflex to molecular testing. Pricing for the screen and molecular tests are the same as before; positive screening results will reflex to molecular testing automatically and be charged the additional molecular test fee. Early diagnosis, through laboratory blood tests, and treatment can help prevent liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
Rick L. Pesano, MD, PhD, vice president of development, science and innovation at Quest Diagnostics, said, “This change to Quest's test offerings is medically responsible and appropriate. It closes a gap in current hepatitis C care by reducing the possibility a patient will undergo multiple office visits and blood draws or be inappropriately referred to specialists based on incomplete testing. With this change to our offering, we will help more people receive insights they can use to access effective treatment and ultimately lead healthier lives.”
Related Links:
Quest Diagnostics
A hepatitis C screening test identifies viral antibodies while a molecular test identifies viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) when the infection is active. In some people, the immune system clears hepatitis C infection on its own, but antibodies may linger in the blood for decades. As a result, a positive antibody screening test can signify resolved or active infection, and as much as 3% of antibody screens produce a false positive.
Quest Diagnostics (Madison, NJ, USA) will automatically perform molecular testing on all patient specimens whose antibody screening results indicate Hepatitis C virus infection, and remove standalone positive antibody screening as a test option. The change to the company’s service menu eliminates the prospect a patient may receive a positive screening result but fail to undergo additional molecular testing, as recommended by medical guidelines, to help confirm a diagnosis of active hepatitis C infection, the cause of chronic hepatitis C.
With the change to the Quest menu, any specimen that an antibody screening test indicates is positive will automatically reflex to molecular testing. Pricing for the screen and molecular tests are the same as before; positive screening results will reflex to molecular testing automatically and be charged the additional molecular test fee. Early diagnosis, through laboratory blood tests, and treatment can help prevent liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
Rick L. Pesano, MD, PhD, vice president of development, science and innovation at Quest Diagnostics, said, “This change to Quest's test offerings is medically responsible and appropriate. It closes a gap in current hepatitis C care by reducing the possibility a patient will undergo multiple office visits and blood draws or be inappropriately referred to specialists based on incomplete testing. With this change to our offering, we will help more people receive insights they can use to access effective treatment and ultimately lead healthier lives.”
Related Links:
Quest Diagnostics
Gold Member
Aspiration System
VACUSAFE
Electrolyte Analyzer
CBS-4000 (CBS-400)
Automated Urinalysis Solution
UN-9000
Latest Immunology News
- Antibody Profiling Identifies Preclinical Inflammatory Bowel Disease Years Before Diagnosis
- Ultrasensitive Blood Test Detects Sjögren’s Signature Years Before Diagnosis
- New Assays Expand Cytokine Testing for Transplant and Immunocompromised Patients
- Cell-Free Assay Detects Functional IgE for Food Allergy Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Models Detect Hidden Eye Abnormalities After Mild COVID-19
- Anti-Lipid Antibody Biomarkers May Identify Early Lyme Disease and Persistent Symptoms
- Immune Biomarkers Could Identify Risk of Chronic Critical Illness on ICU Admission
- Emergency Department Opt-Out Testing Program Identifies Undiagnosed HIV
- Airway Immune Signature May Predict Tuberculosis Progression Risk
- New Cellular Biomarkers Correlate with Disease Severity in Sjögren Disease
- Lung Immune Profiling Reveals Distinct Severe Pneumonia Subtypes
- Lab-on-a-Chip Approach Advances Immune–Cancer Cell Interaction Analysis
- Antibody Profiles Provide Clues to Long COVID Severity and Symptoms
- Aptamer-Based Biosensor Enables Mutation-Resilient SARS-CoV-2 Detection
- Metabolic Biomarker Distinguishes Latent from Active Tuberculosis and Tracks Treatment Response
- Study Points to Autoimmune Pathway Behind Long COVID Symptoms
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Preoperative Blood Test Predicts Colorectal Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis
Cancer cells require large amounts of nutrients to grow and proliferate, and amino acids support key processes including protein formation, energy production, and DNA synthesis. Colorectal cancer is marked... Read more
New Machine-Learning Equation Improves LDL Cholesterol Assessment
Accurate assessment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is central to cardiovascular risk management, yet calculation methods can underestimate values in some patients. Laboratories widely use... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Residual Disease Test Predicts Merkel Cell Carcinoma Recurrence Earlier Than Antibody Assay
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer with a substantial risk of relapse, occurring in about 40% of patients. Surveillance remains challenging because widely used serologic monitoring... Read more
Portable Rapid Test Aims to Detect Ebola at Point of Care
Rapid confirmation of Ebola virus disease (EVD) is essential for isolation, contact tracing, and timely care, yet many outbreak zones lack access to advanced laboratories. The current emergency in the... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Spectral Flow Cytometry Assay Enhances MRD Detection in Multiple Myeloma
imal residual disease (MRD) monitoring is pivotal in multiple myeloma, where persistent malignant plasma cells drive relapse risk and help guide therapy decisions. In the United States, approximately 202,000... Read more
New Marker Helps Detect Aggressive Multiple Myeloma Earlier
Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignancy of plasma cells and the second most common blood cancer worldwide, with more than 188,000 new cases each year. Although therapies have advanced, most patients... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Antibody Profiling Identifies Preclinical Inflammatory Bowel Disease Years Before Diagnosis
Inflammatory bowel disease often develops after a prolonged symptom-free period, complicating timely recognition and clinical intervention. Limited understanding of immune activity during this silent phase... Read more
Ultrasensitive Blood Test Detects Sjögren’s Signature Years Before Diagnosis
Sjögren’s disease is a common autoimmune condition that can be difficult to recognize early, leading to delayed diagnosis and persistent symptom burden. It affects around half a million people in the UK... Read more
New Assays Expand Cytokine Testing for Transplant and Immunocompromised Patients
Eurofins Viracor has introduced three plasma-based assays—CXCL9 (Test Code 33607), CXCL10 (Test Code 33609), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) (Test Code 33611)—expanding its immunology testing menu for transplant... Read more
Pathology
view channel
Digital Pathology Tool Predicts Breast Cancer Outcomes and Therapy Response
Breast cancer prognosis often depends on microscopic assessment of tumor architecture, a process that can be subjective and lead to variable predictions across patient groups. Quantitative measures that... Read more
AI Bone Marrow Mapping Provides New Tool to Track Blood Cancer Severity
Myelodysplastic neoplasms, a group of blood cancers that primarily affect older adults, are challenging to stage and monitor, often requiring repeated bone marrow biopsies that can yield uncertain interpretations.... Read more
Technology
view channel
Training Device Improves Accuracy of Pooled Molecular Diagnostics
High-throughput molecular diagnostics have transformed infectious disease detection, but many workflows remain difficult to execute accurately without extensive training. Sample pooling can cut per‑test... Read more
New CE-Certified Software Advances Whole-Genome Cancer Testing
European hospitals are increasingly using comprehensive tumor genomics to guide therapy, but routine whole genome sequencing (WGS) requires validated, regulation-compliant workflows. A newly CE-certified... Read more
National Rare Disease Registry Standardizes Genetic and Clinical Data for Coordinated Care
Rare diseases collectively impose a significant clinical burden despite their individual rarity, often involving multisystem presentations and prolonged diagnostic journeys. Limited specialist expertise... Read more
Industry
view channel
Collaboration Advances Extracellular Vesicle-Based Tests for Neurodegenerative Diseases
NanoSomiX, Inc. and Beckman Coulter Diagnostics announced a collaboration to explore the development of next-generation immunoassays for neurodegenerative diseases using extracellular vesicles (EVs).... Read more
