FDA approves first genotyping test for patients with hepatitis C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a test that identifies the genotype of hepatitis C virus (HCV) that a patient is carrying. The Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II, which can differentiate genotypes 1, 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, and 5, using a sample of an infected patient’s blood plasma or serum, will aid health care professionals in determining the appropriate approach to treatment. Because the various HCV genotypes respond differently to available drug therapies, knowing the type of HCV a person is infected with can result in better patient outcomes.

Full FDA news release.