Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Introduces ADVIA Centaur HBsAgII

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has introduced its second generation in-vitro immunoassay for the qualitative detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in human serum and plasma (EDTA, heparin, citrate) using the ADVIA Centaur® and ADVIA Centaur® XP systems.

“The new ADVIA Centaur HBsAgII assay offers leading analytical and clinical sensitivity to common HBsAg subtypes, resistance to HBsAg a-determinant mutations and excellent specificity, combined with all the productivity benefits of ADVIA Centaur immunoassay systems,” states Sarah Holt, Marketing Manager for Infectious Diseases at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.

The new HBsAgII assay will replace the existing HBsAg assay on the ADVIA Centaur systems. It can be used in conjunction with other serological and clinical information to diagnose individuals with acute or chronic Hepatitis B infection. The assay may also be used to screen for Hepatitis B infection in pregnant women to identify neonates at risk of acquiring Hepatitis B during the perinatal period.

Currently two billion people worldwide are infected with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and an estimated 600,000 people die each year due to acute or chronic consequences of this disease especially in Asia and Africa.* It can be easily treated and healthy adults that are infected can recover with the result of lifelong immunity. Carriers of HBV can remain highly infectious and are a potential source of new infections. The chronically infected may suffer serious health consequences such as high risk of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and may require a liver transplant as a last resort.