Geneva scientists develop blood-drop test for concussion
CT scans are expensive and expose patients to radiation.
Keystone
Scientists at the University of Geneva have developed a portable device capable of diagnosing within ten minutes mild traumatic brain injury, using a single drop of blood.
This content was published on
3 minutes
University of Geneva/ts
Every year in Europe, three million people are admitted to hospitals for suspected mild traumatic brain injury cases, the University of Geneva said in a statementExternal link on Monday.
Yet 90% of these patients return home safely as no trauma has been detected. Today, the only reliable diagnosis is the CT Scan, which is only available in some hospitals and, in addition to being expensive, exposes patients to radiation.
More
More
Concussion in football: is progress being made?
This content was published on
If a footballer is concussed, it’s probably best not to slap him in the face, says Raymond Beaard from players’ union FIFPro.
Researchers from the University of Geneva, in collaboration with the hospitals of Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, have developed a small device that analyses the level of proteins in the blood and allows, using a single drop of blood, to diagnose the possibility of a mild traumatic brain injury.
This discovery, described in journal PLOS OneExternal link, will not only relieve emergency departments and free patients from often long waits, but also save on costly medical examinations, the researchers said.
“We wondered if it was possible to isolate certain proteins whose presence in the blood increases in the event of mild traumatic brain injury,” explained Jean-Charles Sanchez at the department of internal medicine of specialties and the biomarkers centre of the university’s faculty of medicine.
“Our idea was to find a way to do a quick examination that would allow, during a boxing or American football match for example, to determine whether the athlete can return to the field or if his condition requires hospitalisation.”
Drop of blood
During a shock on the head, some brain cells are damaged and release the proteins they contain, increasing their level in the blood. The scientists gradually isolated four molecules indicating the presence of a brain injury: H-FABP, Interleukin-10, S100B and GFAP.
“We have noticed that the H-FABP level alone makes it possible to confirm that there is no risk of trauma in one third of patients admitted after a shock,” Sanchez said. The rest of the patients will have to undergo a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis.
It was still necessary to develop a device that could be used everywhere, quickly and simply, and that could be available in pharmacies or sports halls. By placing a single drop of blood on the well of a small 5cm plastic case, the patient knows within ten minutes whether there is a risk of mild trauma, namely whether his H-FABP level is higher than 2.5 nanograms per millilitre of blood.
“If a lane appears, the injured person must go to a hospital for a CT scan. If there is nothing, he can go home safely!” Sanchez said.
More
More
Concussion: FIFA and Swiss leagues put their heads together
This content was published on
Christoph Kramer, Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta all played on despite picking up head injuries that left them dazed and confused. But it was the reaction to the concussion to Álvaro Pereira that generated the most media criticismExternal link. Pereira described it like the “lights going out” when an opponent’s knee hit his headExternal link.…
This content was published on
By 8am on Saturday, an 11-kilometre queue had formed at the Gotthard tunnel’s northern entrance, with drivers facing nearly two hours of delays.
Plant-based meat market in Switzerland set to grow to CHF361 million by 2030
This content was published on
Switzerland’s market for plant-based meat alternatives has a potential value of around CHF 242 million this year, though it remains a niche market.
This content was published on
The army is looking for a modern solution for its decommissioned fortress mortar bunkers, with plans to turn them into hardened defence hubs.
This content was published on
Spain ended Switzerland’s run in the Women’s Euros on Friday, but fans in Bern made history with the largest supporters’ march in Women’s Euros history.
This content was published on
Solar energy pioneer Raphaël Domjan and his team continued preparations for the altitude record attempt at 10,000 metres with the SolarStratos solar aircraft.
This content was published on
Cattle in the canton of Geneva and in the neighbouring region of Terre Sainte in the canton of Vaud are being vaccinated against the contagious viral skin nodule disease. The first cases of the animal disease were reported at the end of June in France, just outside Geneva.
Fewer attacks on Swiss ATMs but their future remains uncertain
This content was published on
Bank ATMs in Switzerland are less prone to attacks by criminals, but their future remains uncertain given the less active use of cash by the population.
This content was published on
A series of rockfalls occurred above the village of Brienz between 9 and 12 July. According to the municipality of Albula, the overall situation remains tense. Several people disregarded the ban on entering the area around the village.
This content was published on
Arosa Bergbahnen achieved the highest figure in its 95-year history in the 2024/25 financial year with net revenue of CHF 37 million. Arosa Lenzerheide was able to capitalise on strengths such as snow reliability and the size of the ski area in a long winter season, the company announced on Thursday.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.