A blood test that can detect a traumatic brain injury (TBI) within 10 minutes was developed by scientists from the Université de Geneve (UNIGE) in Switzerland.
Every year, around 3 million people with suspectedtraumatic brain injuryafter home, work, communication and other accidents with symptoms such as vomiting are admitted to hospitals in Europe alone , blurred vision, loss of consciousness or memory for about 30 minutes. These are the first signs of TBI.
To confirm the diagnosis of intracranial trauma, the patient undergoes computed tomography. This is the most reliable test to confirm TBI, although it exposes the patient to X-rays. However, in many countries this examination is expensive and few hospitals can afford a CT scanner. Delay in diagnosis, e.g. caused by transporting the patient to another facility, makes it impossible to undertake rapid neurosurgical intervention, which threatens the he alth and life of victims with traumatic brain injury. However, this may change soon.
Scientists from Université de Geneve (UNIGE) in Switzerland, in collaboration with Spanish hospitals in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, have developed a test, TBIcheck, which confirms mild traumatic brain injury within 10 minutes. In a single blood drop, the test analyzes the level of proteins that are released from damaged brain cells, especially H-FABP. H-FABP levels above 2.5 nanograms per millimeter of blood indicate brain damage.
The research is especially useful for rescue teams. It's like a pregnancy test. If, after applying a blood drop, a single line appears in the appropriate place, it is a sign that the patient should undergo tomography to confirm the intracranial injury, its location and extent. If the result is inconclusive, paramedics can use a small Cube Reader to display "positive" or "negative" and send the result to the physician's phone. Patients with negative results may go home after dressing other wounds and observing. At the same time, they do not burden hospitals with additional costs of diagnostics, treatment, and care.
Swiss scientists are currently working on tests that will similarly quickly detect stroke and brain aneurysm.
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