Market for OraSure Hepatitis C Test Grows

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently expanded its approval of a rapid hepatitis C virus test, allowing physician-based practices and public health clinics to use a finger-stick or venous blood sample to diagnose HCV in patients, yielding results within 20 minutes.

Use of the finger-stick version of the OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test, made by Bethlehem, Pa.-based OraSure Technologies, was previously limited by FDA to 40,000 testing laboratories. Some 180,000 new customers could be added due to FDA’s latest green light. OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test has not been approved for use in pediatric patients.

Four million people in the United States are estimated to be HCV-infected, the vast majority of whom do not know it, said OraSure. The company developed the test in cooperation with Merck & Co., whose HCV drug Victrelis won FDA approval in May. Merck sales representatives will likely help market the rapid test to doctors.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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