People could have a choice between blood draws and collecting tears for tests
Dec 6, 2024, 11:00 AM
A BYU study could give people the choice to choose between collecting tears or drawing blood for tests. (Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — A new Brigham Young University study found that the proteins in tears can show markers for things like cancer and eye disease.
Professor Ken Christensen said tear collection could be an alternative to drawing blood. He said the tears could also serve as an additional resource for early disease detection.
“People use blood because that’s what they’ve done forever and ever,” Christensen said. “That’s kind of standard practice. So, this is just an alternative way.”
Christensen said he believes there are scenarios where collecting tears is more feasible than having a phlebotomist on hand to do a blood draw.
“People are not going to stop getting blood draws,” Christensen said. “But I think there are situations and maybe resources for settings where that would be preferable to a blood draw.”
Christensen said his team collected the tears and proteins by having subjects wear contact lenses. He said doctors could run overall health screenings this way, similar to screenings at the dentist or general practitioner.
“It’s easier to convince people to put a contact lens in for a few minutes, than to like, ‘oh here let me poke you with this glass tube,'” Christensen said.
Christensen said this concept is in the very early stages. However, he hopes tear testing can be included in those general screenings in the future.
Britt Johnson is a reporter and anchor for KSL NewsRadio.
