By Luke Cowley
A new blood test is to be tested on volunteers who have been prescribed heart disease medications, which aims to save the lives of patients.
It is hoped the test will also save the NHS millions of pounds.
The novel finger-prick test was developed by researchers at De Montfort University in Leicester, and can be carried out in clinics or at home.
The test identifies the amount of therapeutic drugs in a 5mm diameter sampling of a heart disease patient’s blood.
Dr Graham Lawson, of DMU’s Pharmacy Practice Research Group said: “In general, around 40% of patients do not take their drugs correctly.
“Our volunteers can help better that – this test will help save millions of pounds while allowing doctors to optimise treatment for their patients.”
Heart disease is very common in the UK and remains one of the biggest killers.
Cardiovascular disease, which includes circulatory and heart disease, causes more than 155,000 deaths per year in the UK.
Furthermore, it is estimated that unused or wasted medicines cost around £4bn every year.
Drs Sangeeta Tanna and Graham Lawson at De Montfort University conducted the research and development of this test.
The first finger-prick sessions will be carried out on Wednesday March 9 and Thursday 10.
So far, about a dozen people have volunteered for the life-saving treatment.
Dr Sangeeta Tanna said: “We’re hoping to get as many volunteers as we can get. The more the better!”
