New Blood Test for Inherited Heart Conditions

Researchers have developed a new blood test to detect inherited heart conditions. Inherited heart conditions are passed through families genetically, and prior to blood testing, the only way to know you might have one was when a family member passed away suddenly without an obvious cause. “Without a genetic test, we often have to keep the whole family under regular surveillance for many years, because some of these conditions may not develop until later in life. This is hugely costly for both the families and the health system,” said Dr. James Ware, one of the lead researchers on the British Heart Foundation-funded study at Imperial College London and a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

The new test will be able to detect conditions before they become life-threatening and allow for intervention and treatment. It’s also quicker, cheaper, and more reliable than previous testing methods.

Learn more about the discovery here.