Key Takeaways

A new rapid test for hepatitis C delivers results within 15 minutes

This would allow doctors to diagnose patients during an office visit and get treatment started immediately

Rapid test results agreed 100% with slower lab-based testing

FRIDAY, Dec. 12, 2025 (HealthDay News) — People could learn within 15 minutes whether they are infected with hepatitis C , thanks to a rapid test developed by Northwestern University.

The test will allow doctors to diagnose infections during an office visit and kickstart patients’ treatment before they leave, researchers said.

“This test 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,” researcher Dr. Claudia Hawkins sa

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