Rapid blood test to detect active hepatitis C for faster treatment in low-resource settings
Active HCV diagnosis to support prevention of HCC in LMICs
A quick blood test to find active hepatitis C so adults in low-resource areas can start treatment sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166363 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to build and validate a one-step, point-of-care blood test on the DASH™ platform that detects active hepatitis C virus (HCV) by finding viral RNA. If you test positive for HCV antibodies, the test would tell you right away whether the virus is currently in your blood using a small blood sample. The team will develop the assay at Northwestern and validate it using patient samples and partner clinics in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries. Faster confirmation of active infection is intended to help people get linked to antiviral treatment sooner and reduce later complications like liver cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who screen positive for HCV antibodies or who are at risk for hepatitis C at participating clinics in Nigeria or other low-resource settings are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children, people already cured of hepatitis C, or those without detectable HCV RNA are unlikely to get direct benefit from this diagnostic-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could let people learn quickly if they have active hepatitis C and begin treatment earlier, lowering the risk of liver damage and liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Rapid HCV RNA testing at point of care is an emerging approach with some early positive results, but single-step bedside RNA diagnostics still need broader validation.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcfall, Sally Maureen — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Mcfall, Sally Maureen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.