PIN-PRICK TEST: EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR CONCUSSION

Leinster Rugby Assist Research Into Blood Test For Spotting Traumatic Head Injuries

One of the most successful rugby clubs in Europe has linked up with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in Ireland, in an effort to devise an early warning system for concussion. Leinster Rugby players are providing blood samples to academics at TCD that may lead to the development of a pin-prick test that can tell medics when a player is suffering from a head injury. The research team has already identified “metabolic patterns” that researchers say indicate trauma has occurred. According to Dr. Fiona Wilson, one of the project’s lead researchers, “Every activity in the body leaves a map. The fluids of your body tell you a lot. It’s a protein and shouldn’t appear in the general circulation unless the blood brain barrier has been compromised. We are looking at these metabolites and early stages show we may have a map.”

The team has also taken blood from elite rowers, who put their metabolic systems under pressure in a similar way to professional rugby players, but do not experience collisions in their sport. This enabled the scientists to ascertain that the proteins present in rugby players were from numerous collisions and not from intensive physical exercise. Now they know what proteins to look for in injured players. “It’s the same as having a heart attack,” continued Wilson.” The process is not too dissimilar to a person who is admitted with a suspected heart attack, doctors may take a blood sample to determine the presence of certain cardiac enzymes.

The good news is that progress is being made, and we could one day soon see a pin-prick test that could be administered pitch-side, which would hopefully avoid situations such as the one last year, where Florian Fritz was sent back on to play despite being concussed. “Our initial findings indicate that we have made significant progress in identifying the blood test. Collaboration with Steno Diabetes centre in Denmark means progress can be made towards a finger-prick blood test already familiar to diabetes management.” The research is financed from America by the NFL’s Head Health Challenge, a fund aimed at discovering new materials and technologies that can identify early-stage mild traumatic brain injuries and improve overall brain protection.