19 June 2013 - Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, a company that operates a nationwide network of 38 primary testing locations, more than 1,500 patient service centres, and routine testing, is offering Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV Test, v2.0, a viral load assay for hepatitis C virus, it was reported yesterday.

The viral load assay is designed to improve sensitivity. The lower limit of detection and quantification of the quantitative HCV viral load assay is 15IU/mL against current qualitative HCV assays with 10-50 IU/mL.

LabCorp chief medical officer, Dr. Mark Brecher, said, 'The COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV Test, v2.0 is another valuable addition to the Company's comprehensive portfolio of assays that characterise the Hepatitis C virus, disease course and the patient's optimal treatment path.'