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New Mad Cow Test on the Horizon?

Posted by Zonk on from the moooo-mooo-mooooo dept.

pin_gween writes "Prions are thought to be responsible for mad cow disease and its human variant, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Until now, the only way to positively ID those infected was to dissect the brain. Canada.com has an AP wire reporting that researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have 'developed a method of multiplying the number prions in a blood sample so a blood test then can detect them.' If perfected, it would make the blood supply safer; transfusions can spread the disease between people. It could also open up more blood donations for the Red Cross: in the U.S., people who have spent more than 3 months total (since 1980) in the UK or 6 months total (since 1980) in Europe are banned from donating."

11 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Alternative test by Boomshanka · · Score: 5, Funny

    will it determine if the woman I am about to marry will turn into a mad cow down the track.... now that would truely be a useful test.

  2. Mad Cow Test on the Horizon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    If she stops talking to you and refuses to say what's wrong... that's a pretty good indicator.

  3. To be fair by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    Prions can also be spread via cannibalism- although cannibals can rest assured that as far as prions are concerned, eating brains is still much, much safer than receiving transfusions.

  4. heard this on the TV a while ago... by IchBinEinPenguin · · Score: 4, Funny

    cow1: Do you worry about mad cow disease?
    cow2: Why should I? I'm a rabbit.

  5. Re:Blood test since 2003 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Well it's /. you know...

  6. VCJD in the US by jcaren · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course, we all know that this disease does
    not occur within the states, mainly because
    it is a federal offence to even mention the
    possiblity of it :-)

    I ask you what is safer, wipe out the disease
    or discussion (and therefore action).

    Jacqui

  7. 80% no passport by jurt1235 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Maybe the 20% with passport are overly present in de the donorgroup?

    --

    My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
  8. Oh my, yes by payndz · · Score: 2, Funny
    Until now, the only way to positively ID those infected was to dissect the brain.

    Am I the only one who imagined Professor Farnsworth saying that, with a degree of relish?

    --
    You must think in Russian.
  9. Actually... by Torfbolt · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought everybody already knew THE Mad Cow Test
    http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/madcow.htm

  10. No tech needed... by mrch0mp3rs · · Score: 2, Funny


    If you tip a cow, and it gets up and charges you.. chances are it's mad.
    </dumb joke>

    --
    --- -a- "I'd love to change the world, but it'd be easier if the universe exposed its API."
  11. Mad Cow Test by NotFamous · · Score: 2, Funny
    Sample questions from the "Are you a Mad Cow?" test:
    1. Do you often feel your section of the pasture has a higher percentage of weeds
    2. Do you have frequent dreams related to tipping? Do you land?
    3. Do you often have difficulty "showing affection" in the stall?
    4. Do you read Slashcow?
    --
    Some settling may occur during posting.