Quest Joins Major Labs to Lead HCV Diagnostics Discussion

From September 8 – 9, thought leaders in the infectious disease community  gathered to discuss hepatitis c (HCV) diagnostics testing at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Hepatitis C Diagnostics Summit in Atlanta.The summit was an opportunity to have a dialogue about the current state of HCV diagnosis and testing as well as discuss new and improved technologies. HCV affects close to 3 million people, but many do not know. Laboratory testing can help identify the disease, which is highly treatable. When left untreated HCV can cause liver cirrhosis, cancer or death.

Rick L. Pesano, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, research and development  for Quest Diagnostics, spoke in a session titled “HCV Diagnostics: the Clinical and Public Health Laboratory Setting - Policy, Practice and Data,” where he  discussed historical testing and current testing practices as well as  Quest’s HCV campaign aimed at getting baby boomers tested.  CDC recommends that anyone born from 1945 through 1965 get tested for HCV.In 2013, Quest Diagnostics and the CDC formed a collaboration to study HCV testing to better understand patterns in diagnosis and treatment particularly in Baby Boomers. Two years later, they expanded the collaboration to include analysis of testing for all viral hepatitis viruses.This event was attended by scientists and healthcare practitioners as well as members of the laboratory community with the goal of exchanging ideas on the current and future state of diagnostics in the treatment and prevention of HCV.Quest Diagnostics is a leader in hepatitis diagnostic information services. Services include laboratory screening, virus genotyping, risk stratifying and viral load testing to aid diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Learn more at www.KnowAboutHepC.com.