Scientists are excited about a promising experimental test called VirScan (systematic viral epitope scanning) that have tested blood samples of over 600 people of different ages, from different countries. The revolutionary test, that only needs a drop of a person's blood, detects all 206 viral species known to infect humans and identifies more than 1000 strains and bacteria, the journal Sciencemag.org reports.
Results of the VirScan shows that on average, a person carries 10 viral species like the common cold and flu over a lifetime. In addition, a staggering 84 viruses were found in at least two individuals tested. Doctors point out the importance of the development of this blood test in improving over-all health care. As typically, such tests can only detect one virus at a time thus, giving only specific clinical advise and causes problems for doctors and patients alike. VirScan, provides a more comprehensive analysis of a person' s medical history because now, doctors can determine a patient's past and present virus exposures at the same time. This is the key to providing early detection of illnesses or diseases, moreover, they (doctors) can now avoid wasting time and prescribing the proper treatment or medication sooner. Accordingly, this lessens a patient's worries on time, money, and physical strains while undergoing medical examinations and observations. It will provide the ease and convenience inaccessible in the past.
Viruses directly cause many acute or chronic diseases in humans, some have already proven fatal if not detected sooner. Subsequently, they ( viral species) leave inedible footprints on your blood which permanently alters your immune system and profoundly affects your over-all health. Experts also add that the test can be expanded to identifying new viruses and strains that can affect humans which will be a huge step forward in the prevention and control of future possible virus outbreaks, according to Time.
