Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a rapid test that can detect hepatitis C infection in just 15 minutes, offering the potential for same-day diagnosis and treatment. The test is designed to allow doctors to identify infections during a routine office visit and begin treatment immediately, reducing delays that can worsen health outcomes.
“This test could transform hepatitis C care in the U.S. and worldwide by speeding up diagnosis, increasing treatment uptake, and enabling more people to be cured faster,” said Dr. Claudia Hawkins, director of Northwestern’s Institute for Global Health Center for Global Communicable and Emerging Infectious Diseases. The test operates up to 75% faster than the previously FDA-approved Xpert HCV test, which delivers results in 40 to 60 minutes. Independent evaluation at Johns Hopkins University confirmed the test’s accuracy, showing complete agreement with laboratory-based testing using 97 blood samples. Hepatitis C affects an estimated 50 million people globally and causes more than 240,000 deaths annually, primarily from liver disease. The disease is curable with an 8- to 12-week course of medication, but low treatment rates persist due to delays in diagnosis.
The new test uses the DASH (Diagnostic Analyzer for Specific Hybridization) device, initially developed to detect COVID-19 from nasal swabs, to analyze blood samples quickly. “By enabling point-of-care testing during a patient’s visit, this tool supports same-day diagnosis and treatment, which is crucial for global HCV elimination efforts,” said Sally McFall, co-director of Northwestern’s Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies. Experts say the test could be instrumental in helping the World Health Organization achieve its goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. The research was published on Wednesday in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.