Blood DNA Test Detects Heart Transplant Rejection

April 21, 2011

A new type of test that detects “foreign” DNA in a patient’s bloodstream may provide early clues to organ rejection. The technique could offer an alternative to the expensive and invasive biopsies now used to detect transplant failure. Organ transplantation saves the lives of thousands of Americans each year. But recipients are at risk for transplant rejection, in which the immune system attacks and damages the donated organ. Researchers have been searching for biomarkers in the blood that might serve as early signs of organ rejection and allow quick intervention, but results to date have been mixed. (Bioscience Technology)