Bayer Receives FDA Approval for Test To Measure HIV Viral Load
Drug maker Bayer announced Tuesday that it has received FDA approval to market a test that can detect the blood viral loads for "all major types" of HIV, Bloomberg/New York Times reports (Bloomberg/New York Times, 9/18). The test, called Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 Assay, is a nucleic acid diagnostic test that "reliably detects significant changes in viral load across the entire assay range," Dow Jones News reports. Bayer stated that accurate monitoring of viral load is essential to optimize HIV treatment (Dow Jones News, 9/17). Roche currently manufacturers two HIV tests that measure viral load, but the tests need to be conducted in conjunction in order to be effective. Bayer's test covers the process with one test because it eliminates one step necessary with the Roche tests (Bloomberg/New York Times, 9/18).
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