SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a blood test for detecting/diagnosing concussions:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today permitted marketing of the first blood test to evaluate mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly referred to as concussion, in adults. The FDA reviewed and authorized for marketing the Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator in fewer than 6 months as part of its Breakthrough Devices Program.
Most patients with a suspected head injury are examined using a neurological scale, called the 15-point Glasgow Coma Scale, followed by a computed tomography or CT scan of the head to detect brain tissue damage, or intracranial lesions, that may require treatment; however, a majority of patients evaluated for mTBI/concussion do not have detectable intracranial lesions after having a CT scan. Availability of a blood test for concussion will help health care professionals determine the need for a CT scan in patients suspected of having mTBI and help prevent unnecessary neuroimaging and associated radiation exposure to patients.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Friday February 16 2018, @03:46AM
If it comes back negative (after it's been proven to be a reliable test of course), insurance companies won't pay for a head CT afterwards. Expensive scans have to be pre-approved by insurance, and if they deny it, the doctor has to find something else, or appeal it (or you pay out-of-pocket, but you have to be informed first).