New Blood Test May Help Identify Whether Infection is Caused by Virus or Bacteria
Posted on September 25, 2013
A new blood test is being developed by researchers at Duke University that may help tell whether a respiratory infection is caused by a virus or a bacteria. The researchers say the test is 90% effective. The blood test looks at how the body's immune system is responding to an infection. CBS News reports that the test looks for a genetic "signature" specific to a viral infection. Take a look:
The new test was reported in Science Translational Medicine. A press release from Duke says the blood test is moving close to a clinical trial.
Study co-senior author Geoffrey S. Ginsburg, M.D., Ph.D., director of Genomic Medicine and professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, says in the release, "In instances such as pandemic flu or the corona-virus that has erupted in the Middle East, it's extremely important to diagnose a viral illness far more accurately and speedier than can be done using traditional diagnostics. Current tests require knowledge of the pathogen to confirm infection, because they are strain-specific. But our test could be used right away when a new, unknown pathogen emerges."