Northwestern Scientists Unveil Groundbreaking 15-Minute Hepatitis C Test

Northwestern University scientists have developed the fastest-ever diagnostic for Hepatitis C virus (HCV), delivering highly accurate results in just 15 minutes. This rapid PCR test, adapted from existing COVID-19 technology, promises to revolutionize diagnosis and accelerate treatment for millions globally, as reported by sciencedaily on December 11, 2025.

The unprecedented speed of this new test is crucial for initiating patient treatment much more quickly, potentially preventing severe complications and fatalities. According to northwestern Now on December 10, 2025, the diagnostic is up to 75% faster than other rapid HCV tests currently available.

This innovative diagnostic utilizes the DASH® (Diagnostic Analyzer for Specific Hybridization) PCR platform, originally created at Northwestern University for rapid COVID-19 detection. Talker News reported on December 10, 2025, that the technology has been successfully adapted to analyze whole blood specimens for HCV.

The development holds significant promise for global public health efforts, particularly in achieving the World Health Organization's ambitious goal of eliminating HCV by 2030. Northwestern Now highlighted on December 10, 2025, that this test could play a critical role in these worldwide initiatives.

Current Hepatitis C diagnosis typically involves a two-step process, often leading to significant delays and patient loss to follow-up. As noted by the NIH, the lack of rapid point-of-care viral tests has been a major barrier to timely diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Professor Sally McFall, co-director of the Centre for Innovation in Global Health Technologies (CIGHT) at Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering, led the development. She stated that the test enables same-day diagnosis and treatment, supporting HCV elimination efforts, Talker News reported on December 10, 2025.

Independent evaluations confirmed the test's exceptional reliability, showing 100% agreement with existing commercial platforms. This rigorous validation underscores its potential to transform HCV care, according to a December 10, 2025, report from Northwestern Now.

• Global Burden of Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C remains a significant global health challenge, with an estimated 58 million people living with chronic HCV infection worldwide, as reported by mdpi on March 30, 2024. This "silent epidemic" often progresses without symptoms until severe liver damage, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer, has occurred, leading to approximately 400,000 deaths annually, according to Alpine Biomedicals on August 24, 2022.

• Challenges in Current Diagnostics: The standard diagnostic pathway for HCV involves an initial antibody test to detect exposure, followed by a separate PCR test to confirm active viral presence. This multi-step process can take days or weeks for results, contributing to delays in treatment and a high rate of patients being lost before receiving confirmatory diagnosis, as detailed by Northwestern Now on December 10, 2025, and NATAP on May 12, 2024.

• Technical Innovation of the DASH Platform: The new diagnostic leverages the DASH® PCR platform, initially engineered at Northwestern University for rapid COVID-19 detection from nasal swabs. This versatile technology has been successfully adapted to identify HCV RNA from whole blood samples, demonstrating its flexibility and potential for broad application in infectious disease diagnostics, according to sciencedaily on December 11, 2025.

• Revolutionizing Patient Care and Linkage: The ability to provide a definitive HCV diagnosis in just 15 minutes means patients can receive results and begin treatment during a single clinic visit. This "test and treat" model significantly reduces the time from diagnosis to treatment, improving patient outcomes and reducing the risk of transmission, especially for vulnerable populations who may struggle with follow-up appointments, as highlighted by the University of Bristol on January 25, 2023.

• Economic and Public Health Implications: Rapid point-of-care testing offers substantial benefits by making diagnosis more accessible and cost-effective, particularly in low-resource settings where centralized laboratories are scarce. Alpine Biomedicals noted on August 24, 2022, that this approach can reduce healthcare costs associated with advanced liver disease and support large-scale screening programs essential for achieving global elimination targets.

• Expert Endorsement and Future Vision: Dr. Claudia Hawkins, director of the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health's Center for Global Communicable and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern, emphasized the test's potential. She stated that it "could revolutionize HCV care in the U.S. and globally by dramatically improving diagnosis, accelerating treatment uptake and enabling more people to be cured faster," as reported by northwestern Now on December 10, 2025.

• Addressing Gaps in HCV Elimination Strategies: Despite the availability of highly effective direct-acting antiviral treatments, progress toward HCV elimination has been hampered by challenges in diagnosis and linkage to care. The new 15-minute test directly addresses these upstream barriers, offering a simplified and efficient pathway to identify infected individuals and connect them to life-saving treatment, a critical step towards the WHO's 2030 elimination goals, according to natap on May 12, 2024.