New Blood Test Allows for Early Arthritis Diagnosis

Instead of being surprised by that first ache or pain, doctors may soon be able to use a blood test to diagnose patients with early-stage arthritis years--before irreversible symptoms take hold. The test was developed by researchers from the University of Warwick, in England. According to UPI, scientists involved with the project say their new procedure will be able to provide an early diagnosis for osteoarthritis. They'll also be able to distinguish early-stage rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint diseases. The procedure works by identifying the chemical signatures within the plasma in a patient's blood and detecting the damage done as a result of oxidation, glycation, and nitration. Researchers are confident the new approach will significantly improve the prognosis for a variety of joint inflammatory ailments. In a press release, lead researcher Naila Rabbani called it "a big step forward."