Blood Test Could Detect Breast Cancer

A new blood test is helping detect breast cancer before it shows up on a mammogram. News On 6 anchor Terry Hood reports doctors in a lab say they have cracked a code that could save lives.

They've created a test that can detect breast cancer even when a mammogram doesn't. It's called the BC SeraPro.

"This is a test for measuring the concentration of proteins in the blood and how they differ from the normal state will tell is about the presence of disease," said Ira Goldknopf, PhD.

Dr. Ira Goldknopf has been studying proteomics for more than 30 years. Proteomics is similar to genetic testing, but while genetic testing screens for disease causing genes, proteomics looks for certain protein markers in a person's blood.

"The method analyzes specific proteins and these proteins tell us what is going on with the patient in terms of the disease and how the disease is playing out on the patient," said Ira Goldknopf, PhD.

Unlike mammograms, which give false positives 10% of the time and false negatives about 20% of the time, Dr. Essam Sheta says the BC SeraPro will be able to give a definite answer.

"You could say it can catch it before because we see some elements of that where the test says positive, but a mammogram says negative," said Essam Sheta, Director of Biochemistry for Power3 Medical.

Early studies show BC SeraPro has a 90% success rate. It's just one of two tests being launched by Power3 Medical. A protein-based test for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's comes out later this year. Power3's CEB says it's just the beginning.

"Any disease that has a need we will be able to find a blood test for," said CEO Steve Rash.

Doctors say the test is ideal for women who are considered at high risk for breast cancer.  The test should be available in clinics early next year.  It'll cost between $350 and $500.