German scientists may have just gotten one step closer to a reliable asbestos blood test for the detection of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The problem with the current tests is that they are not incredibly accurate, and they test for different chemical markers in a person’s blood. Mesothelin and a microRNA gene called miR-103a-3p are two examples of these chemical markers.
When the scientists analyzed blood tests from their group of mesothelioma patients, they were able to identify 74 percent of their sick patients by looking for mesothelin, and rule out 85 percent of the healthy subjects. When looking for microRNA, sick patients had an 89 percent confirmation rate, but only 63 percent of healthy patients could be ruled out.
When each biomarker was looked for, 95 percent of the sick patients were identified along with 91 percent of healthy patients. This combined approach could help doctors tremendously, and with luck, it can eliminate some of the other lengthy procedures necessary to test for mesothelioma.
Workplace Exposure to Asbestos Has Given Me Mesothelioma. Am I Entitled to Compensation?
Harrell & Nowak have helped hundreds just like you. Our New Orleans-based firm is dedicated to helping you navigate the complex legal struggle of suing your employer for asbestos exposure. To learn more about the dangers of asbestos exposure or talk to asbestos lawyers about your situation, give our Louisiana mesothelioma lawyers a call today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C.– Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorneys
Source: http://survivingmesothelioma.com/in-search-of-a-better-mesothelioma-blood-test
Did You Know? Mesothelioma symptoms typically appear several decades after an exposure to asbestos. The gap between the first exposure and the appearance of symptoms is called the latency period.