The state of New York has adopted a new hepatitis C (HCV) testing law, which requires providers in all clinical settings in the state of New York (except emergency rooms) to offer a one-time HCV test to people born between 1945 and 1965.
The law will take effect on January 1, 2014.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HCV is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States. Up to 75% of people with hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. It is estimated that Baby Boomers (people born between 1945 and 1965) are five times more likely to have hepatitis C than other adults.
The CDC recommends that all Baby Boomers, approximately 78.2 million individuals, be tested for hepatitis C at least once.
OraSure Technologies notes its OraQuick(R) HCV Rapid Antibody Test (pictured) is the first and only FDA-approved, CLIA-waived rapid, point-of-care test for the detection of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus, with results available in 20 minutes.
[Source: OraSure Technologies]
