美國食品和藥品管理局（FDA）近日批准首例診斷腦震盪的血檢產品。這一產品可以快速診斷腦部損傷，並讓患者大腦避免受到電腦斷層掃瞄（CT掃瞄）的輻射。
這項叫做Banyan腦外傷指標（Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator）的血檢通過檢查大腦在受損後向血液裡釋放的兩種特定蛋白的含量，UCH-L1和 GFAP，從而預測腦損傷的程度。往往這兩種蛋白在大腦受到損傷後的15至20分鐘內就可以檢測到。患者在受到腦部撞擊後的12小時之內都可以接受這項檢測。檢測結果可以在3至4小時後出來。
和CT掃瞄相比，這項血檢確診患者受到腦損傷的比例高達97.5%，同時確診患者沒有腦損傷的比例則是99.6%。
除了高準確度以外，這項血檢也可以為病人降低醫療花費。目前CT掃瞄的費用在800至1500美元之間，而這項血檢的花費只有150美元左右。
連結：FDA authorizes marketing of first blood test to aid in the evaluation of concussion in adults（FDA公告）
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.
小編評：這真的是運動員福音啊…