Valencia-based Specialty Laboratories has inked a deal that will provide it with research the company plans to use to develop and commercialize a test to predict some risk factors associated with Hepatitis C virus. Terms of the deal, made with Celera Genomics, include an undisclosed upfront license fee upon successful validation of Specialtyl’s test and royalties on net sales for the commercial use of the test in the U.S. Further details were not disclosed. The deal will allow Specialty to develop tests that predict the risk of cirrhosis in patients with chronic Hepatitis C. The company expects that these tests will be more useful than what is currently available to manage the disease. “The collaboration with Celera strategically complements our innovative and extensive pipeline of diagnostic services and reinforces our strong commitment to liver and gastrointestinal diseases,” said James Peter, founder and chairman emeritus of Specialty. “We believe the molecular diagnostics market is growing, particularly for innovative testing services such as those derived from Celera’s genetic markers.”