A painless, saliva-based test for the hepatitis C virus may be available in a year, say two companies that are developing the screening device.
HCV is a viral infection transmitted though contact with an infected person’s blood, contaminated needle use or unprotected sex with an infected partner. At present, it is identified by means of a blood test.
By eliminating the discomfort associated with drawing blood, the oral test may encourage people to be screened for HCV, as well as help eliminate the danger of healthcare workers’ becoming infected as a result of needle-stick injuries.
Like blood tests, the oral screening test identifies the presence of antibodies to HCV rather than to the virus itself. It uses a flat cotton swab attached to a short tube that is held between the gingiva and cheek for about four minutes. The swab then is placed in a preservative-filled test tube and delivered to the lab. Manufacturers predict that negative results will be available in 24 hours, while positive results will take 72 hours.
The test will be sold to public health institutions, as well as drug rehabilitation programs and AIDS treatment centers, both of which serve people at elevated risk of acquiring the disease.
Epitope Inc. and LabOne hope to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the product to be used in the public health markets.
