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This blood test can tell you every virus you’ve ever had
washingtonpost.com ^ | June 4 | Brady Dennis

Posted on 06/05/2015 4:14:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin

The new test, known as VirScan, works by screening the blood for antibodies against any of the 206 species of viruses known to infect humans, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science. The immune system, which churns out specific antibodies when it encounters a virus, can continue to produce those antibodies decades after an infection subsides. VirScan detects those antibodies and uses them as a window in time to create a blueprint of nearly every virus an individual has encountered. It's a dramatic alternative to existing diagnostic tools, which test only for a single suspected virus.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 06/05/2015 4:14:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Test costs $25 according to FOX News.


2 posted on 06/05/2015 4:19:49 PM PDT by lonestar (It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)
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To: lonestar

WHOA! I expected $2,500!


3 posted on 06/05/2015 4:21:57 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: BenLurkin

Cool!

Cuz I had either measles or chick pox as a kid, but I don’t recall which.


4 posted on 06/05/2015 4:22:24 PM PDT by G Larry (Obama Hates America, Israel, Capitalism, Freedom, and Christianity.)
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To: BenLurkin

I wonder if it can tell the difference between exposure to a vaccine vs exposure to the actual diseases. I could imagine this could be useful for criminal forensics too.


5 posted on 06/05/2015 4:22:38 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not really out to get you.)
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To: lonestar
What good is this if modern medicine they can't cure the common cold?
6 posted on 06/05/2015 4:22:40 PM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: BenLurkin
They found that the average person has been exposed to 10 of the 206 different species of known viruses -- though some people showed exposure to more than double that number.

That's interesting. I expected the figure to be much higher.

7 posted on 06/05/2015 4:27:27 PM PDT by TigersEye (If You Are Ignorant, Don't Vote!)
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To: G Larry
I had them both. Also had the mumps. In those days there were no vaccines and having these childhood diseases was rather routine — like a rite of passage or something.
8 posted on 06/05/2015 4:27:32 PM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: BenLurkin

Whew, NSA was worried about those 6 missing days from your medical history.


9 posted on 06/05/2015 4:29:11 PM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: lonestar
Test costs $25 according to FOX News.

Thanks, that is just what I was wondering about. Now to find a place to get the test without paying $100+ bucks for a doctor's office visit.

10 posted on 06/05/2015 4:29:33 PM PDT by TigersEye (If You Are Ignorant, Don't Vote!)
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To: BenLurkin

What about the kitty poop virus? I’ve had catz since I was two years old. Wouldn’t be without one! But the last 30 years they’ve all been inside girlies.


11 posted on 06/05/2015 4:32:23 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: BenLurkin

thius is wonderful news. Does it work on computers?


12 posted on 06/05/2015 4:32:52 PM PDT by mrs ippi
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To: G Larry

I can’t remember if I had measles or not. I do recall having chicken pox and two outbreaks of shingles over the years did a great job of refreshing my memory on that.


13 posted on 06/05/2015 4:33:30 PM PDT by TigersEye (If You Are Ignorant, Don't Vote!)
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To: TigersEye
Yep, cancer is a wonderful thing. You create more jobs when you get it. Slightly offcourse, but they want everyone to run to man for your life. Even when it makes no sense.
14 posted on 06/05/2015 4:37:23 PM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: Karl Spooner

They can tell you if you ever had one.


15 posted on 06/05/2015 4:37:50 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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To: Karl Spooner

I’m not following your post at all.


16 posted on 06/05/2015 4:41:27 PM PDT by TigersEye (If You Are Ignorant, Don't Vote!)
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To: eyedigress
They can tell you if you ever had one.
17 posted on 06/05/2015 4:45:53 PM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: BenLurkin

I took the test, it detected 14 unidentified but common viruses:
1. The Pelosi Virus
2. Democraps Virus
3. Rino virus

....
I am doomed!


18 posted on 06/05/2015 4:49:52 PM PDT by dila813
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To: BenLurkin
The new test, known as VirScan, works by screening the blood for antibodies against any of the 206 species of viruses known to infect humans,

Can't you have antibodies against viruses without actually having had the virus?? -Tom

19 posted on 06/05/2015 4:53:27 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: Karl Spooner

So, here’s my question:

Isn’t every rhinovirus (common cold) a rather unique virus? Isn’t that why it’s so hard to cure the common cold? Because it’s different every time? If this test lists every virus you’ve had, won’t it list about 60 colds that you’ve had in your lifetime? And do they all have names? I mean, the “mumps” virus is one thing, but the cold I had in the winter of 1979 was really bad — but how will it be identified (named)?


20 posted on 06/05/2015 4:53:32 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Claire Wolfe should check her watch. It's time.)
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