Blood test that warns of sepsis

A NEW blood test to detect early signs of clotting could stop sepsis in its tracks.

The deadly infection is often diagnosed late after serious organ damage has occurred.

This damage is partly caused by clots cutting off blood supply to organs. However, scientists at the University of California, U.S., have now developed a test that can spot proteins responsible for blood clot formation.

In animal studies, they were able to detect the proteins soon enough to administer antibiotics and prevent serious sepsis symptoms, the journal eBio Medicine reported. In future, the test could become part of routine blood checks.