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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?"

6 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft Blood Test by Paul+Slocum · · Score: 4, Funny

    My first thought when I read the title. Guess that's a sign of too much Slashdot.

  2. Yes, but... by Schezar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I would definitly want to know. That way, I could either get the best help as early as possible in order to extend my enjoyable life or, were the time left found to be short, quit my job and go on a bender.

    But...

    I would want strict legislation preventing corporations/insurance providers/employers from getting the results of said tests. You can't tell me with a straight face they wouldn't use such information in hiring/coverage decisions.

    --
    GeekNights!
    Late Night Radio for Geeks!
  3. Hell YES! by HotButteredHampster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I would feel so stupid if I had the opportunity to know what would kill me and not taken it and the opportunity to take steps to rectify it. Yes, MS is incurable, but "incurable" is only a measure of our current knowledge and ability, not an absolute. Also, some things such as cancer are measures of risk factors, and can be avoided by behaviour modification.

    "Incurable" has a way of changing pretty quickly. Imagine, if you will, the amount of money which would be pumped into MS research if a sitting President found himself (or herself) on the road to developing it?

    Knowledge is power.

    HBH

    --
    "Smart is sexy." -- D. Scully ("War of the Coprophages")
  4. 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) ;-).

  5. 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.

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    Unitarian Church: Freethinkers Congregate!
  6. Complexity and Supercomputers by CaptainRon · · Score: 3, Funny

    The BANF site describes the technology as using "a complex mathematical processes and supercomputers to ensure the highest level of accuracy and quality control." Do any in the /. community believe that a complex mathematical process and supercomputers actually ensure quality control?