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A single gene may play a role in the development of cancer and a number of age-related diseases, including arthritis, hardening of the arteries and Alzheimer's disease, according to new study findings.

 

Genetic Testing Will Make Blood Supply Safer

In an effrot to increase the safety of the blood supply, blood banks have started using a sophisticated new genetic test designed to detect viral infections in their very early stages.


The test, called nucleic acid testing (NAT), is able to detect small amounts of a virus before the blood donor's body has even recognized there is an infection. Before this, blood testing relied on detecting antibodies, molecules that fight infection. But antibodies do not develop until the infection spreads.


NAT will be used at first to detect HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and hepatitis C. Health experts also say if a new virus sneaks into the blood supply, such as AIDS did two decades ago, NAT will catch it.


The government has not yet mandated NAT, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is strongly encouraging blood banks to begin genetic testing, and encouraging hospitals to use NAT-screened blood. Health experts say NAT will eliminate a few cases of HIV-donated blood and prevent 84 annual cases
of hepatitis C transmission through donated blood.