BUSINESS WIRE - 44 Montgomery St, 39th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104; Tel: (415) 986-4422; FAX: (415) 788-5335 - Friday, 6 December 1996.
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WHAT: Although our nation's blood supply is the safest it's ever been, Americans are still at risk of receiving a blood transfusion containing undetected HIV or hepatitis C (HCV) virus. After initial HIV infection, it takes several weeks before HIV antibodies or antigen can be detected in the individual's blood. This period is even longer for hepatitis C. And, according to the American Red Cross, approximately 1 in 493,000 Americans unknowingly will contract HIV through tainted blood transfusions, under our nation's current blood- screening program.
Gen-Probe Incorporated is now developing an early-detection test that will identify the presence of HIV in donated blood during the time shortly after infection, when the virus cannot be detected by currently used screening tests. This will decrease the rate of infections due to blood transfusions to approximately 1 in 1.4 million.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has awarded Gen-Probe $7.7 million to refine its new DNA probe (nucleic acid amplification and detection) diagnostic system for detection of HIV and hepatitis C in combination. The fully automated screening test detects the presence of a specific pathogen's actual genetic material (DNA or RNA), rather than measuring antibodies made in response to infection, as do most current tests.
EVENT: Dec. 10, 10 a.m.
WHO: Scott Hitt, M.D. Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council on AIDS and HIV
Peter Page, M.D. Senior Medical Officer, American Red Cross Biomedical Services
HIV Positive Patient
A statement from Vice President Al Gore
Hank Nordhoff Chairman, President and CEO -- Gen-Probe
WHERE: American Red Cross 430 Madeline Drive Pasadena, Calif. (for printed directions, call 213/629-4974)
BACK- The American Red Cross estimates that 5 out of 100,000 GROUND: units of donated blood contain the HIV virus. For hepatitis C, it's 150 in 100,000. The Gen-Probe Amplified HIV/HCV blood screening test is expected to detect an estimated 2 HIV-infected blood units in 1 million blood donations, and an estimated 300 HCV-infected blood units in 1 million blood donations that would not be detected with the currently licensed blood-screening methodology.
INTER- Interviews with news conference panelists will be VIEW & possible immediately following their statements and VIDEO a Q&A. Additional media background materials on this OPPS: technology and the NHLBI contract for the HIV/HCV diagnostic will be available at the news conference or upon request.
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CONTACT: Fleishman-Hillard Inc., Los Angeles Judy Johnson/Dan Blackburn, 213/629-4974 johnsonj@fleishman.com
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Copyright © 1996 - Business Wire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Business Wire, Permissions Desk, Business Wire, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036; Tel: (212) 575-8822; FAX: (212) 575-1854. http://www.businesswire.com.
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