Abbott Laboratories receives approval for new hepatitis B screening method

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of a new hepatitis B diagnostic test, which will be manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Using a blood sample, this screening method is the first to measure the viral load, or the amount of the virus found in a patient's blood.

Researchers developed this testing option in order to better monitor the level of hepatitis B in the patient's body and better manage their therapy treatments. Also, this procedure could help physicians observe virus activity in the body and how it is affected by different medications.

Stafford O'Kelly, director of molecular diagnostics business at Abbot, stated that this new methord is "an important tool for helping physicians make and adjust treatment decisions for new diagnosed patiets and those taking anti-viral medications." He added that "the test will also help improve laboratory productivity by automating the most labor intensive steps of HBV testing."

Currently, an estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with hepatitis B, and each year, approximately 43,000 new cases are diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.