Roche expands hepatitis diagnostics portfolio to help clinicians diagnose and monitor patients with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection

Roche announced the launch of Elecsys HBeAg quant, an immunoassay that is able to determine both the presence and quantity (qualitative and quantitative) of the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in human serum and plasma.

This launch means that, when combined with other laboratory results and clinical information, patients will now get confirmation on whether they have hepatitis B (HBV), and if so, to what extent, as well as treatment monitoring through one single assay. It is for use on the cobas e analysers in countries accepting the CE Mark. HBV is the most common type of viral hepatitis affecting people of all ages, posing a significant burden on people and healthcare systems globally.

The new Elecsys HBeAg quant test will complement existing HBV testing markers. When a patient with suspected HBV returns a positive result of HBeAg, clinicians can determine the patient’s disease phase, assess the activity of the virus in the liver and risk of progressive liver disease and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

“Hepatitis B affects millions of people each year and is a major global health burden. An accurate diagnosis is critical to ensuring timely treatment options. If hepatitis B is left untreated, it can cause chronic infections, putting people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer,” said Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics. “The addition of the Elecsys HBeAg quant immunoassay to our viral hepatitis testing portfolio underlines Roche’s commitment to tackle healthcare’s biggest challenges to support clinicians and their patients.”

The new diagnostic tool reduces complexity and improves operational efficiency thanks to a leaner workflow for lab personnel. It can also simplify the experience for patients, as they only have to undergo one single test to indicate both the presence and quantity of HBeAg. The qualitative result provided by the test can help diagnose patients with HBeAg as an early marker of acute HBV, as well as indicate chronic or active HBV. The additional quantitative answer will enhance patient management enabling the most appropriate treatment plan for patients.

The Elecsys HBeAg quant can also be used as a tool in perinatal screening and to monitor antiviral treatment response within infected patients, potentially supporting the implementation of a therapeutic plan tailored to individual patient’s needs.