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RNA blood test for diagnosing IBD, IBS launched
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Life science technology company IQuity announced the launch of IsolateIBS-IBD, a blood test that can diagnose inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome by analyzing RNA expression data.
“The accuracy of this process at the earliest onset of symptoms exceeds 90%,” according to a press release, which noted that differentiating between IBD and IBS is important given the conditions show similar early symptoms but require different treatments.
The test can also help differentiate between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, per the press release.
“The process of diagnosing IBS and IBD can be time-consuming and physically and emotionally draining for patients,” Chase Spurlock, PhD, CEO of IQuity, said in the press release. “With IsolateIBS-IBD, we’re providing a potent new tool to aid physicians as they work with patients to achieve an accurate, early diagnosis. We want to help eliminate uncertainty and give physicians and patients information that they can trust, leading to an early and effective treatment.”
Early diagnosis with this test can allow patients to avoid the typical diagnostic “process of elimination,” requiring physical tests like X-rays, stool analyses and endoscopies.
This is the company’s second test launched this year; it launched the first for multiple sclerosis in August, and plans to launch a third for fibromyalgia before the end of the year. They developed all three using machine-learning to create algorithms that compare patient RNA profiles against a data set of other individuals’, according to the press release.
“RNA testing has the potential to transform the process of medical diagnostics,” Spurlock added.
Disclosures: Spurlock is employed by IQuity.