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National Hepatitis Testing Day: Most Infected Are Unaware, All Boomers Should Get HCV Test

In advance of the National Hepatitis Testing Day on Saturday, May 19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new recommendation that all Baby Boomers born between 1945 and 1965 should get tested at least once for hepatitis C. Testing Day events will also promote hepatitis B screening, especially for Asian communities. Research shows that a large majority of people with hepatitis B or C do not know they are infected.alt

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AASLD: HCV Screening of 1945-1965 Birth Cohort Appears Cost-Effective

Screening all people in the U.S. in the 46 to 66 year age group for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection would identify more than 800,000 additional cases, and offering testing plus treatment if needed would be cost-effective, according to an analysis presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Liver Meeting (AASLD 2011) this month in San Francisco.alt

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Screen for HCV Based on Age, Not Risk Factors

More people with chronic hepatitis C could be identified and treated if healthcare providers routinely screen all "baby boomers plus" born between 1946 and 1970, rather than only people traditionally considered at risk.

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FDA OKs New Abbott HCV Test

Abbott last week announced that the FDA approved a new PCR blood test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) with a 12 IU/mL limit of detection and quantification.

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FDA Approves HCV Rapid Antibody Test for Fingerstick Blood Samples

OraSure Technologies, Inc. announced this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood from a simple fingerstick. This new indication for the test -- which was previously approved for testing blood drawn from a vein -- will simplify HCV screening, especially in non-clinical settings.

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