The test was developed through a non-exclusive license agreement under which Schering, a Merck affiliate, licensed certain patent rights claiming Interleukin (IL) 28B genetic markers to Quest Diagnostics.
These genetic markers have been shown to provide an indicator of potential response to peginterferon alpha-based therapy for HCV.
Certain polymorphism of the IL28B gene found in individuals infected with the most common type of HCV, HCV genotype 1, aids in identifying those patients who are twice as likely to eliminate the HCV virus on a sustained basis when treated with pegylated interferon-ribavirin combination therapies.
Quest Diagnostics medical director Rick Pesanosaid AccuType IL28B test will give physicians greater insights for treating individual patients infected with the most common form of HCV using standard antiviral therapies.
"AccuType IL28B testing will also help physicians consider alternative therapies, which in the future may include HCV protease inhibitors."Pesanosaid
HCV infection is a chronic blood borne infection in the US, chronically infecting 3.2 million people, if left untreated chronic HCV can lead to liver cancer or liver cirrhosis requiring liver transplantation.
