INDIA – Roche Diagnostics India Private Limited is solidifying its presence in the global immunoassay market with the launch of the Elecsys HCV Duo in India.
According to Roche Diagnostics India, the Elecsys HCV Duo is now India’s first commercially available fully-automated immunoassay for the qualitative dual detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen and antibodies to HCV.
Roche’s Elecsys HCV Duo allows simultaneous and independent determination of the hepatitis C virus antigen and antibody status from a single human plasma or serum sample.
In a press release, the diagnostics solutions provider said: “The Elecsys HCV Duo assay comprises two test modules, one for the detection of HCV Ag (HCVAG) and one for the detection of anti-HCV (AHCV).”
Roche’s fully-automated immunoassay can be used to detect the early stage of an HCV infection, as well as when the patient is recovering from the virus, or even during chronic infection.
The Elecsys HCV Duo assay can be used by laboratory experts, hepatologists, and microbiologists as a screening tool to facilitate significantly early diagnosis of active hepatitis C virus infections.
Commenting on the significance of this diagnostics solution, Dr. Sandeep Sewlikar, Head of Scientific and Medical Affairs at Roche Diagnostics India, stated: “Elecsys HCV Duo offers single specimen testing and simplifies the diagnostic algorithm which plays a crucial role in preventing patient’s loss to follow up and enabling linkage to care.”
By utilizing the dual detection of HCV core antigen and antibodies, the Elecsys HCV Duo assay can help healthcare providers avert underdiagnosis in populations with ongoing transmission.
It is recommended by the European Association for the Study of the Liver as a marker of HCV replication to diagnose acute and chronic HCV infection.
Ultimately, Roche’s HCV core antigen assay product launch builds on the World Health Organization’s elimination goal of reducing HCV infections by 90% and reducing deaths by 65% by 2030.
According to the World Health Organization’s preventive care advice for the general public, the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid contact with the hepatitis C virus, a bloodborne virus with no vaccine available.
What’s concerning in the medical community is that viral hepatitis C is increasingly being recognized as a public health problem in India.
As per the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP), anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody prevalence in the general population of India is estimated to be between 0.09-15%.
There are about 12-13 million HCV carriers and modeling data predict that the disease burden could soon increase substantially.
Hence, the timely launch of Roche’s Elecsys HCV Duo can contribute to the government’s efforts to reduce the high Hepatitis C disease burden in India.
The Elecsys HCV Duo devices are set to be deployed to laboratories across India to ensure early diagnosis and initiation of correct treatment, and improved disease management.
It offers single specimen testing and simplifies the diagnostic algorithm which plays a crucial role in preventing patient’s loss to follow up and enabling linkage to care.
Through the Elecsys HCV Duo, Roche aims to provide laboratory experts, hepatologists, and microbiologists with high-tech hepatitis screening tools for closing the gap in diagnosis and treatment.
Empowered clinicians can work toward the common goal of early detection of HCV core antigen, and in turn, shorten the diagnostic window period and confirmation of active infections.
On preventive care tips, Dr. Sandeep Sewlikar outlined: “The adoption of the Elecsys HCV Duo for patients will result in the reduction of the number of visits needed to take additional tests and can alleviate some of the testing load on the healthcare system in India”
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