Special Program for Hepatitis C Donor/Participants for Genotype 4, 5 and 6

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Dear List Members,

BioCollections Worldwide, Inc. (BCW) is an organization dedicated to the advancement and development of new testing methodologies through the performance of IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved Blood Collection Protocols. Currently we are working to develop more specific assays for Hepatitis C in the Genotype arena. Even though different Genotypes of HCV have been categorized by a geographical distribution worldwide, studies are starting to show that the mode of transmission of may also dictate the type of Genotype.

As part of our validation and correlation studies we have the task to identify HCV positive D/Ps (Donor/Participants) with particular genotypes and viral loads. For this reason we are looking to recruit HCV positive D/Ps who have been identified with Genotypes 4, 5 or 6.

Our approved protocol has the following procedure:

1. Inclusion Criteria:

a. D/Ps that are HCV positive with Genotypes 4, 5 or 6.

b. D/Ps must also have a Detectable Viral Load on their latest report.

2. Logistics:

a. Qualified D/Ps will be flown from any part of the Continental United States to our headquarters in Miami.

b. Our Medical Director will perform a physical examination.

c. A Plasmapherese procedure will be performed.

d. The qualified D/P will return home.

3. Compensation:

a. All travel expenses including plane tickets and lodging will be at the expense of BCW.

b. D/Ps will receive US$500.00 as compensation for their participation in the program.

4. Testing:

a. As part of the protocol we will perform a viral load and genotype testing on all participants.

b. These results will be available within 7 – 10 days and may be accessed through our secure lab results reporting web portal.

5. Other Notes:

a. D/Ps will plan to be staying in Miami for 2 days. Even though the medial examination and the plasmapherese procedure will be performed on the same day, we would like the D/P to be well rested upon arrival into Miami (avoiding jet-lag) and to stay at least one more night in order to monitor his/her well-being after the plasmapherese procedure.

b. D/Ps will stay at a Marriott Courtyard or equivalent.

c. The plasmapherese procedure usually last approximately 45 minutes in duration.

d. Even though we are concentrating our recruitment efforts in the Continental United States only, there may be a possibility for which we may expand the recruitment efforts at a later time.

If you would like additional information, please do not hesitate on contact me at sixto.pacheco@....

Best Regards,

Sixto Pacheco

BioCollections Worldwide, Inc.

001.305.792.2090 - (

001.305.468.6324 - 7

Advancing Diagnostic Discovery...Worldwide

sixto.pacheco@...www.biocollections.com