Is there really a blood test to diagnose concussion?

In the past year and a half, various news stories may have led some people to believe that there are blood tests that can diagnose or unmask concussions with a single drop of blood. For individuals who have recently received a bump, hit, or jolt to the head and are wondering if they have sustained a concussion, this may sound like a simple way to find out. Unfortunately, for now it probably isn’t. What do these blood tests actually do? Simply put, these tests measure substances, such as proteins and enzymes, that are released into the blood within hours of a brain injury when there is intracranial damage (including bleeding in the brain). Such brain damage is often observable via a CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. If the levels of these substances are below certain cutoff values, this suggests that no such observable intracranial damage has occurred, and a scan can be safely avoided. Therefore, these tests hold promise for avoiding unnecessary imaging scans, saving on medical costs, and — importantly — avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure from CT scans. As these tests evolve, they may prove to be more sensitive than CT scans at determining intracranial damage. What happens when a person seeks treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? When someone experiences a trauma to the head and a possible brain injury is suspected, they are often taken to a trauma center or ER. Physicians need to determine fairly quickly whether the person i...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Concussions Memory Neurological conditions Tests and procedures Source Type: blogs