Active Viral Hepatitis Diagnostics to Support Prevention/Treatment of HCC

The overall goal of this proposal is to develop point-of-care diagnostic tests to detect active viral hepatitis B and C infection. Routine screening for viral hepatitis is not routine in many sub-Saharan countries with limited resources which results in high rates of hepatocellular carcinoma with a typical presentation at very late stage with an average survival of less than 3 months. These tests will be used to screen patients for hepatitis B and C who are at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma and to monitor patients with chronic viral hepatitis during treatment. The impact of earlier detection and improved monitoring of viral hepatitis will prompt earlier treatment which will result in prevention of carcinogenesis and/or earlier stage diagnosis with improved outcomes in patients in low and middle income countries.