As the serious long - term consequences of “ pocket-sized ” brain hurt become recognized , the pauperization for good concussion trial becomes more obvious . In the absence of scanning devices beside every sporting area , a new blood test that reveals brain injuries may be the solution , indeed it may even do better than CT scans , while potentially being much cheap .
Weeks ago the cricketing world watched in repugnance as Australian batsman Steve Smith was fell by a speeding delivery to the neck , pucker to the pitch before strike out hurt . Smith ’s coming back later in the innings prompted overweight criticism of the doctors who approve it . To most observers it looked like he should n’t be out there , an impression re - enforce when he missed the next lucifer .
The event play up the difficulties of name concussion injury , and the importance of doing so , because institutionalise a concussed player back onto the field can turn a impermanent problem into something prospicient - terminal figure . With 4.8 million Americans visiting ERs for suspect concussion each year , the job extends far beyond elect athletes .
Professor Geoff Manleyof the University of California , San Francisco , is using the fact that some proteins are loose into the blood after a traumatic brain trauma ( TBI ) to seek a speedy and reliable solution .
InThe Lancet NeurologyManley reports such tests may not only outmatch the cognitive tests used by sports doctors , not to observe the old “ how many fingers am I holding up ? ” , but the CT scans frequently used in hospitals .
When valuate wit injuries , MRI scans are the gold standard , but these are expensive and slow , even for hospitals that have the equipment . CT CAT scan are prompt , cheaper , and more wide uncommitted , but they neglect some TBIs .
Manley tested origin from 450 patients with a suspected TBI but a clear CT scan looking for glial fibrillary acid protein ( GFAP ) , a suspect biomarker for brain damage . Two weeks after the same patient were appraise with an magnetic resonance imaging .
Although the blood test did n’t omen MRI results perfectly , patients in the highest quintile for GFAB were eight time as probable to have a encephalon injury ( 64 percentage to 8 percent ) as those in the lowest quintile . Since the test took just 15 minutes and was done using a hand - held i - STAT Alinity machine the results show this sort of blood examination can be widely available .
" Having these sensitive puppet could offer physicians more real - clip , objective information and meliorate the truth of detecting TBI , ” Manley said in astatement .
Abbott , the ship’s company that defecate the i - STAT Alinity , is assay to better the preciseness of its test by looking for extra markers to compound with GFAP readings . Even without such advance , however , Manley ’s results suggest GFAP could be a good initial triage equipment to assess patients for further examination .
