Bacterial and viral infections do have the same symptoms but different treatments. Determining the source of infection at the earliest is crucial to begin the right treatment. The tests in use to identify infections are time-consuming and not always accurate. Now researchers have developed a test that will make quick diagnosis. The immune system of patients with bacterial infections behaves differently from the immune system of patients with viral infections, and the test is based on these differences. It analyses the chemical markers of circulating phagocytes that act as major players in the defence response. The type of markers vary with the infection. Analytical Chemistry,

Different chemical markers on phagocytes (major players in body’s defence response) are activated as per bacterial and viral infection in the body

Source : Down To Earth
Date: August, 2011