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Pattern Recognition Software Enables MS Blood Test

Posted by timothy on from the not-that-other-ms dept.

ProteomicsWizard writes "Using proteomic spectral pattern recognition software, scientists have described a way to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis from a blood sample. The technology is applicable to other diseases including various cancers. With the technology available for identifying uncureable diseases before they manifest themselves, would you want to know?"

4 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. It's only 50 people, folks... by wherrera · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a good prelminary result, but we know from experience with other blood tests for disease states that these tests have to be verified with many different types of healthy and sick groups of people before the test can be considered a good one. For example, is this really just a test for active myelin breakdown? There are urine tests for that already, and they have their problems with sensitivity and specificity.

    That said, it would be nice to have a cheap, reliable blood test for MS (multiple sclerosis not Micro$oft) ;-).

  2. Sure that's not Microsoft? by justanyone · · Score: 3, Insightful


    Remember:
    * MS == Microsoft
    * MS == Multiple Sclerosis
    * MS == Mississippi

    All 3 of these require more education spending to combat evil.

    --
    Unitarian Church: Freethinkers Congregate!
  3. How would you know? by Engineer-Poet · · Score: 2, Insightful
    what if by the time the illness manifests itself, a cure is available, but it's only effective prior to the first symptoms?
    Sounds like a really good reason for people at risk of getting MS to enroll in studies to determine exactly that.
    --

    Sustainability and energy independence essay
  4. Knowing can be good by mutterc · · Score: 2, Insightful
    "What to Expect When You're Expecting" has some info on this kind of dilemma; they are addressing the question of "why bother with these tests for birth defects, if abortion is not an option?"

    They give several reasons; the one that sticks out in my mind is that a positive test can tell you to start making the (emotional, financial, etc.) preparations for raising a "special needs" child.