Could An Emergency Blood Test Help People Suffering From Strokes?

The timescales for blood tests can vary, with results sometimes being available in mere minutes, whilst others require days or even weeks to emerge.

If you want test results as quickly as possible, it is best to get in touch with a pharmacy that specialises in them. 

In some cases, rapid results can save lives, and nowhere is this perhaps best illustrated than in a pilot scheme which could potentially save the lives of people suffering from strokes.

Why is this the case? How can the test help? And could this lead to other emergency blood tests being used to signpost emergency care?

What Is The Emergency Blood Test For Strokes?

A stroke is an emergency condition where blood cannot flow through part of the brain, causing brain cells to die and fundamental changes to how the body works.

There are three different types of stroke, each of which has slightly different causes and requires different emergency treatment:

• Ischaemic Stroke - This is caused by a blockage cutting off blood flow, usually a blood clot.

• Haemorrhagic Stroke - This is caused by bleeding on or around the brain, typically caused by a burst blood vessel.

• Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) - Sometimes known as a mini-stroke, this is a short-term stroke caused by a blood clot or air bubbles in the blood.

Much of the delay in treating strokes, which can be the difference between a full recovery, lifelong side effects or death, is determining the cause of a stroke and thus the right type of specialist treatment.

How Does The Test Work?

The type of test is known as an LVOne test, and it checks for blood biomarkers linked to bleeds in the brain or the formation of blood clots. With an accuracy level of 95 per cent and results available in as little as ten minutes, it can be a vital tool for paramedics.

The idea is that patients can be tested at the scene or in the ambulance by paramedics, and if it turns out positive, they can be directed to a specialist hospital that can provide a treatment known as mechanical thrombectomy.

A mechanical thrombectomy is a procedure where a tube is inserted into a blood vessel, with a tool used to cut up and pull out blood clots, restoring blood flow to the brain quickly and minimising further issues.

For strokes caused by blood clots, it is one of the most effective treatments for stopping a stroke, typically in combination with thrombolysis, an anti-clotting medication.

Whilst it is very effective, it can only be used in certain cases and needs to be done as soon as possible following a stroke.

The test, therefore, helps paramedics know to take a patient to the nearest specialist where a thrombectomy is available, rather than the nearest available hospital.

The pilot scheme will be used in 280 ambulances over six months, checking to see how effective it is in patient outcomes.

Could This Lead To Other Emergency Blood Tests?

Rapid paramedic blood tests are relatively uncommon, but if this low-cost, fast test ultimately turns out to be beneficial, it could have a massive effect on stroke care, improving patient outcomes and lowering long-lasting effects.

If this works, it could potentially lead to further rapid blood tests being possible, ensuring that other emergency treatments are provided quickly and minimising delays.