Local Researchers Unveil Ouchless Lead Test
Test Is Non-invasive, Pain-free, Researcher Said
POSTED: 2:58 pm EDT September 23,
2009
UPDATED: 7:16 am EDT September 24,
2009
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BOSTON -- From toxic toys to lead paint in your home, lead exposure in children has become a major health concern. Up until now, the only way to test for lead is with a blood sample, which can be very traumatic for some kids.
Local Researchers Unveil Ouchless Lead TestBut as NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported Wednesday, a new, pain-free lead test could be on the market soon.Beth Last anticipated more than a whimper from her daughter Catelyn Wednesday, when she got her finger pricked for a lead test."She's a screamer. You're happy today, but you're a screamer," Last said."We use blood lead for all children under the ages of 3, and most kids don't like it," said Dr. John Cohen, a pediatrician at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.But soon doctors across the county could be offering a new pain-free lead test, thanks to UMass Boston Professor Robyn Hannigan."Oral fluid can be a substitute for blood lead, which means all you need is a swab, no needles, no trauma to the kids," said Hannigan, who launched her startup company, GeoMed Analytical, in the UMass Boston Venture Development Center.Hannigan helped develop the test with OFT Labs, a company from Marlton, N.J. Using a swab, a saliva sample is taken from inside a person's mouth. That sample gets sent to a lab, and is processed."It takes us less than 30 seconds to actually quantify how much lead is in there," Hannigan said.Research shows the oral test to be as accurate as a blood test. And aside from being used to protect kids, it will protect the environment."When you have blood, you have a human bio-hazard. You have blood that you don't use all of you have have to dispose of it," Hannigan said. "In this case there is no waste."The test still needs to go through another clinical trial. It could be available to doctors across the country soon.
Local Researchers Unveil Ouchless Lead TestBut as NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported Wednesday, a new, pain-free lead test could be on the market soon.Beth Last anticipated more than a whimper from her daughter Catelyn Wednesday, when she got her finger pricked for a lead test."She's a screamer. You're happy today, but you're a screamer," Last said."We use blood lead for all children under the ages of 3, and most kids don't like it," said Dr. John Cohen, a pediatrician at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.But soon doctors across the county could be offering a new pain-free lead test, thanks to UMass Boston Professor Robyn Hannigan."Oral fluid can be a substitute for blood lead, which means all you need is a swab, no needles, no trauma to the kids," said Hannigan, who launched her startup company, GeoMed Analytical, in the UMass Boston Venture Development Center.Hannigan helped develop the test with OFT Labs, a company from Marlton, N.J. Using a swab, a saliva sample is taken from inside a person's mouth. That sample gets sent to a lab, and is processed."It takes us less than 30 seconds to actually quantify how much lead is in there," Hannigan said.Research shows the oral test to be as accurate as a blood test. And aside from being used to protect kids, it will protect the environment."When you have blood, you have a human bio-hazard. You have blood that you don't use all of you have have to dispose of it," Hannigan said. "In this case there is no waste."The test still needs to go through another clinical trial. It could be available to doctors across the country soon.Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
