Break Free from the Challenges of HCV Diagnostics

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A future without Hepatitis C is now possible. To overcome diagnostic challenges, Abbott supports laboratories with a harmonized family of innovative systems, including Alinity and ARCHITECT. These systems provide scalable and flexible testing options needed to support HCV patient management. Together with the professional services and AlinIQ informatics portfolio from Abbott, these solutions help streamline your laboratory operations to support HCV elimination.

Challenges

Barriers to hcv elimination

With the availability of new and highly effective therapies, laboratories need to overcome diagnostic challenges and help identify and manage the estimated 67 million people worldwide who may be unaware they are infected with HCV.1-2

Pressures to keep up with growing demands

Trying to incorporate a one-size-fits-all approach will increase diagnostic barriers to elimination.

By 2030, the World Health Organization’s goal is that 90% of those infected with HCV will know they are infected. Laboratories need to keep up with the growing demand for diagnostics, but an approach that works for one laboratory and patient population may not work for others.3

Patients fail to complete testing

The lengthy process prevents many patients from knowing they are infected, risks further spread of the disease, and interferes with their ability to get the treatment they need.

When patients are required to go through a complicated two-step process, with multiple touchpoints and lengthy testing procedures, many of them drop off. In fact, only 50% of people infected with HCV return for a complete diagnosis.4

Complex diagnostic processes

Inefficiencies can cost the laboratory time and money. 

Strained laboratory resources are often required to coordinate patient redraws, send out testing, and manage testing on multiple systems in core and molecular laboratories to support HCV diagnostics.

Missing the complete diagnostics picture

Limited access to the right diagnostic tools may cause physicians to make care decisions with incomplete data, and place undue stress on patients.

Clinical management of HCV requires multiple laboratory tests to manage the patient’s care. Physicians need the right test at the right time for patient care.

Delivering value with Abbott hcv assays

What if you could break free from diagnostic barriers?

COMMITTED TO DRIVING HCV ELIMINATION, ABBOTT OFFERS A FULL SET OF DIAGNOSTIC SOLUTIONS, EMPOWERING LABORATORIES TO:

  • EASILY ADAPT TO MEET EVOLVING DIAGNOSTIC NEEDS
  • IDENTIFY MORE PATIENTS WITH HCV VIREMIA
  • GAIN MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON SUPPORTING PATIENT CARE
  • ENSURE PHYSICIANS HAVE ACCESS TO ACTIONABLE RESULTS

Easily adapt to meet evolving diagnostic need
Flexibility

In the fight against HCV, different hospitals and patient populations have different needs. Gain access to testing options across the HCV continuum of care, and scale  up to meet testing demands with tools that are personalized to support individual  diagnostic needs.

Identify more patients with hcv viremia
Operational productivity

Diagnosis is the first step towards elimination but HCV diagnosis requires two tests to identify viremia. HCV testing rates can be improved by promoting reflex testing where the same sample is used for both tests required to diagnose HCV. One study reports that in facilities where reflex testing was performed, 98% of HCV antibody positive results underwent subsequent testing to diagnose viremia, compared with only 64% in facilities that did not perform reflex testing.5

Gain more time to focus on supporting patient care
Uniformity

Free up resources by streamlining diagnostics processes and minimizing time spent on managing samples across departments and instruments. This allows valuable time to be refocused on diagnostic support throughout the healthcare system.

Ensure physicians have access to actionable results
Confidence

Empower physicians with the right tests at the right time. Support informed care decisions for patient management by providing quality and contextual insights to patient care at key medical decision points.

References
  1. Hepatitis C. World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs164/en/ Published October 2017. Accessed April 3, 2018.
  2. Know your hepatitis status – increasing access to testing for a hidden infection. World Health Organization website:  http://www.who.int/features/2016/access-hepatitis-testing/en/ Published July 2016. Accessed April 3, 2018.
  3. Draft global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016-2021 - the first of its kind. World Health Organization website:  http://www.who.int/hepatitis/strategy2016-2021/Draft_global_health_sector_strategy_viral_hepatitis_13nov.pdf Published November 2015. Accessed April 3, 2018.
  4. Ward JW. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2016; 12(10):632-635.
  5. Chapko MK, Dufour DR, Hatia RI, Drobeniuc J, Ward JW, Teo CG. Hepatology. 2015; 62(5):1396-1404.
  6. CDC Recommendation: Adults Born from 1945-1965 (Baby Boomers) get Tested for Hepatitis C. Center for Disease Control and Prevention website:  https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/populations/1945-1965.htm Published September 2017. Accessed April 3, 2018.
  7. Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing – Policy brief. World Health Organization website:  http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/251330 /WHO-HIV-2016.23-eng.pdf;jsessionid=6D17A2D1F74A40F3FECFF9B61D15838C?sequence=1 Published November 2016. Accessed April 3, 2018.
  8. EASL Recommendations on Treatment of Hepatitis C 2016. EASL website: http://www.easl.eu/medias/cpg/HCV2016/Summary.pdf  Published September 2016. Accessed April 3, 2018. 
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