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Blood Test To Detect Brain Injury
Rachel Berger, MD, is working to develop a blood test that could be administered in an emergency setting to detect brain injury. For instance, brain injuries can be missed by physicians if parents/caregivers don’t report a traumatic event such as a car accident.
So, if children show any symptoms of a brain injury such as nausea, fussiness or vomiting, this blood test could be used a tool by physicians to determine if a brain injury (and perhaps child abuse) did occur.
Results from Dr. Berger’s research show that the blood test is effective in detecting brain injury (it detected almost 80 percent of brain injuries, including 100 percent in kids who were abused).
