Researchers may have developed a simple blood test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Mad Cow disease.
Scientists used newly discovered genetic sequencing and found that cells infected with prions (the agent responsible for these diseases) released particles with specific patterns of small genes which traveled in the blood stream.
The test could also be used to screen people who have been in the UK (and who have restrictions on donating blood) to determine whether their blood is healthy and potentially boost blood stocks.
Researchers said this was a new area which could potentially be used to test for other conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Read more at The University of Melbourne