(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the marketing of a blood test to evaluate concussions in adults.
The Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator tests the blood for certain proteins the brain releases after a head injury. This newly approved test can help health care providers predict whether patients have brain tissue damage and whether a CT scan is necessary, according to the FDA.
Currently, patients who may have a head injury receive a neurological exam that checks vision, balance, coordination and reflexes. Following the neurological exam, some patients may undergo a CT scan of the brain. However, many patients who are evaluated for a concussion do not show brain lesions (brain tissue damage) on CT scans.
The approval of the Brain Trauma Indicator was part of the FDA’s efforts to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure, the agency said. The availability of a blood test for concussions may prevent unnecessary neuroimaging and associated radiation exposure for patients.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that typically happens when a blow to the head or body causes the head and brain to move back and forth. A concussion can affect how the brain works for a short time. Concussion symptoms include the following:
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Nausea
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Decreased coordination or balance
Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about concussions or other brain injuries.
