Concussion Blood Test Quicker, Cheaper and More Reliable?

A simple blood test could detect signs of concussion in patients up to a week following trauma, replacing more expensive or unreliable methods of diagnosis, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology, 

Published by researchers at Orlando Health in Florida, the find, based on analysis of almost 600 patients over three years, could significantly expand and facilitate the detection of concussions in patients, reported news service AFP. Symptoms of this kind of head injury can often be delayed, making this method of detection a very useful tool.

In addition, patients are most often diagnosed by the observation of symptoms which include vomiting, loss of balance and headaches. The study was able to show that a biomarker could be identified in patients' bloodstreams allowing the detection of mild to moderate brain injuries in patients 18 and up with a 97% accuracy rate, when verified by comparing to scans.

At present, the most precise method of detection is using a CT scan, which is expensive and linked to radiation exposure.

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