APPENDICITIS BLOOD TEST LOOKS PROMISING, FIRM SAYS

A new blood test could be more effective than a computed tomography (CT) scan in diagnosing appendicitis, according to AspenBio Pharma.

The firm said it has created a specialized assay test to detect a biomarker associated with appendicitis, and has piloted the test in several ongoing research trials involving hundreds of patients.

Preliminary results indicate the test is highly effective in identifying patients with acute appendicitis and is "especially accurate in patients 30 years of age and under, which is also the age group most commonly afflicted with appendicitis," AspenBio said.

Appendicitis is especially difficult to diagnose in children and young adults using CT scans because of their low body fat; low body fat can lead to poor tissue differentiation on a CT scan, the firm said.

A second appendicitis screening test, the AppyScreen system, is being developed as a point-of-care test designed specifically for use in physicians' offices, the firm added.