"A new test developed by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) can test for both past and current infections by analyzing a single drop of patient blood. The researchers consider the method superior to existing techniques, which only search for a single virus at a time."
Given the importance of knowing a CLL patient's previous viral exposure history prior to commencing treatment, this could be a useful test to have so specialists know what viral illnesses may reactivate when treatment suppresses a patient's immunity.
Neil
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I really look forward to this kind of testing becoming a reality. But I would say the "complete history" may be more partial than they imply.
Memory B cells do not last your entire life, recent infections take several days to stimulate antibody production, and some viruses mutate quickly.
There's also been a call for more standardization in the antibodies used to test such things. One can order them from catalogs online, but some sources are apparently more reliable than others:
Says that 8 vials cost about US $6,000 with a free coupon. But I'll bet it costs a lot more at the clinic or hospital in the US.
When I took the edX MOOC, (a Massively Open Online Course) "MITx 7.00x Intro to Biology: The Secret of Life", Dr. Eric Lander introduced the refrain, "And where do we find the x?", where x might be an enzyme, reagent, bacteria, or antibody needed in some experiment. The answer is always "It's in the catalog!"
For ultimate convenience, (delivery by drone in some areas soon), you can even buy this stuff through Amazon!
Well its Roche, Genentech and Biogen, I think Biogen actually makes Rituxan.
Should be interesting this fall when the biosimilars hit the U.S.nmarket, certain there are a number of companies like Dr. Reddy from India, Pfizer, Amgen etc. ready to cut a slice of the rituxan market pie...
Samsung dropped out of the race, but I believe there are a dozen other companies with CD20 monoclonals ready to go or in clinical trials.
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I am Artygolf! Feeling I am without proper guidance! I was diagnosed with CLL/SLL X 2 vears ago! I am 73 and I live in the South of England.
Statement from NHS digital acknowledging CLL error in PCR codes
