Novel blood test measures severity of pain

Afirst-of-its kind blood test that can measure the severity of pain in patients may help curb unnecessary precriptions of painkillers, which are often addictive.

For the study researchers tracked hundreds of participants to identify biomarkers in the blood that can help objectively determine how severe a patient’s pain is. The blood test would allow physicians far more accuracy in treating pain-as well as a better long-term look at the patient's medical future.

“We have developed a prototype for a blood test that can objectively tell doctors if the patient is in pain, and how severe that pain is,” said Alexander Niculescu, a professor at Indiana University in the US. “It’s very important to have an objective measure of pain, as pain is a subjective sensation.

Until now we have had to rely on patients self-reporting or the clinical impression the doctor has,” said Niculescu. “When we started this work it was a farfetched idea. But the idea was to find a way to treat and prescribe things more appropriately to people who are in pain,” he said.

Researchers looked at biomarkers found in the blood — in this case molecules that reflect disease severity. Much like as glucose serves as a biomarker to diabetes, these biomarkers allow doctors to assess the severity of the pain the patient is experiencing, and provide treatment in an objective, quantifiable manner.