Central Research Institute of Epidemiology: Hepatitis C test

History

2025: Product Announcement

On November 6, 2025, Rospotrebnadzor announced the development of the world's first rapid test for the diagnosis of viral hepatitis C. The product allows you to detect an illness within about half an hour.

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that can cause serious liver lesions, including cirrhosis and cancer. The process can take place in both acute and chronic forms, and often it develops asymptomatic, which makes it difficult to diagnose in a timely manner, and therefore can lead to late treatment. The ailment provokes inflammation of the liver, as a result of which the organ loses the ability to filter blood and absorb nutrients. The infection is transmitted through the blood, and immunocompromised people are particularly vulnerable.

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Фото: Freepik

The new test was developed by specialists of the Federal Budgetary Institution of Science "Central Research Institute of Epidemiology" (FBUN TsNII Epidemiology) of Rospotrebnadzor. The solution is based on the loop isothermal amplification (LAMP) method: this is a technology for repeatedly increasing the number of copies of a certain section of DNA in a single tube at a constant temperature. The method allows molecular diagnostics to be carried out significantly cheaper and faster compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

When using the developed test, you can detect the presence of a virus in 25-30 minutes. For comparison, in the case of traditional methods, this takes 1.5-2 hours. Reducing the diagnostic time is of great importance for screening studies, prompt identification of patients for the appointment of effective therapy and the adoption of anti-epidemic measures. The test was created within the framework of the Federal Project "Sanitary Shield of the Country - Health Safety (Warning, Detection, Response)."^[1]

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