Blood Test Measures Radiation Exposure

May-18-15 A blood test for radiation exposure could help save lives by offering a quick and accurate measurement of how much radiation an individual has absorbed.

In order to find biomarkers for radiation exposure, the team focused on microRNAs, which are made in cells and some of which can be found in the bloodstream. With this theory in mind, the team set out to determine if different doses of radiation would cause changes in the miRNA. The team narrowed down the miRNAs to the few that would act as a “signature” of the radiation dose, and was able to use a blood test to identify fatal radiation damage in mice within 24 hours after exposure—weeks before symptoms would begin to show.

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