Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) has become the first clinical reference laboratory to offer Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV Test, v2.0, a viral load assay for hepatitis C virus.
Designed with enhanced sensitivity, the lower limit of detection and quantification of the quantitative HCV viral load assay is 15IU/mL compared to current qualitative HCV assays with 10-50 IU/mL.
Several aspects of antiviral HCV therapy will be influenced by viral load determinations and the periodic measurements during the treatment helps physicians to assess the success of the treatment.
LabCorp chief medical officer Dr. Mark Brecher said, "The COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV Test, v2.0 is another valuable addition to the Company's comprehensive portfolio of assays that characterize the Hepatitis C virus, disease course and the patient's optimal treatment path."
