Blood for testing (illustrative)
Blood for testing (illustrative)JHeuser
A new blood test, the PLAC Test, will be used in Israel to serve as an early warning system for seemingly healthy patients who may be on the verge of having a heart attack or stroke.


Dr. Osama Hussein, chief of internal medicine at Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat, said the test can identify risks of life threatening episodes. "The new blood test may identify a risk of stroke and enable the provision of immediate and intensive drug treatment, reducing by 50% the risk of stroke or heart attack," explained Dr. Hussein.


The PLAC Test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) especially for "borderline" patients who have high cholesterol and blood pressure, people who have a history of heart attack or stroke, people who have a family history along with two or more risk factors, and men over age 55 or women over age 45 suffering from hypertension, diabetes, smoking, high levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) or low levels of HDL (good cholesterol).


Dr. Hussein warns that while the test identifies a future risk, it is not intended to replace consultation with a physician.