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New Saliva Test Can Quickly Diagnose Concussions
The simple spit-based test diagnosed concussions with 94% accuracy in a study of over 1,000 male rugby players.
www.forbes.com
Researchers in the U.K. have developed a spit test which can quickly diagnose concussions. The study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine successfully and reliably detected concussions in a study of over a thousand male rugby players in the U.K.
The test was developed to detect tiny molecules called microRNAs, which previous research by the group had found to be more abundant in the saliva of people who had a concussion.
“Concussion can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in settings such as grass roots sports where evaluation by a specialist clinician is not possible. Consequently, some concussions may go undiagnosed," said Dr Valentina Di Pietro, PhD, first author of the study from the University of Birmingham in the U.K.
The three year study followed 1,028 professional male rugby players in the U.K. and tested saliva samples from players who experienced head injuries and also those who had injuries to other parts of the body, as well as uninjured players. By comparing samples from these players, they found that they were able to reliably detect concussions with an impressive 94% accuracy.
“A non-invasive and accurate diagnostic test using saliva is a real game changer and may provide an invaluable tool to help clinicians diagnose concussions more consistently and accurately," said Di Pietro.
