First-of-its-Kind Blood Test Detects Trauma-Related Diseases

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 24 Apr 2025

Image: A simple blood test could detect trauma-related illnesses (Photo courtesy of iXpressGenes)

In today’s fast-paced world, stress and trauma have unfortunately become common experiences for many individuals. Continuous exposure to stress hormones can confuse the immune system, causing it to misinterpret these stress signals as threats, similar to an infection. This misinterpretation triggers an autoimmune response, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, resulting in a cycle of inflammation. The longer this cycle persists, the greater the damage to both mental and physical health. Studies have shown that chronic inflammation leads to oxidative stress in the brain, a condition that contributes to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and other disorders. This inflammation doesn’t just affect mental health; it also leads to a range of physical conditions, including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic pain. Essentially, unresolved trauma and prolonged stress disrupt the body’s response systems, ultimately affecting behavior, personality, and overall well-being. Now, a simple blood test can identify biological markers of trauma-induced conditions before the onset of disease.

iXpressGenes (Huntsville, AL, USA) has discovered that prolonged stress and trauma can lead to differentiated inflammation and autoimmune responses in the body. These immune responses can result in serious trauma-induced diseases, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autoimmune conditions, chronic pain syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and more. These conditions can be detected through specific RNA biomarkers. iXpressGenes has developed a diagnostic aid using a biomarker technology that revolutionizes early detection and prevention of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, thereby modernizing mental health care. Identifying these biomarkers may aid in preventing and treating trauma-induced diseases, such as PTSD, autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain syndromes. The company’s Trauma Autoimmune Indicator (TAI) test is a proprietary, blood-based RNA biomarker technology that helps healthcare professionals detect biological changes caused by trauma, enabling proactive prevention of trauma-related diseases.

TAI screening represents a breakthrough in trauma care by detecting trauma-induced inflammation at the cellular level before symptoms appear. By analyzing RNA and identifying specific protein dysregulations associated with immune response, TAI screening reveals the hidden changes trauma causes in the body. This early detection not only helps identify the impact of trauma but also provides valuable insights for timely intervention, reducing the risk of long-term health complications. Just like how a cholesterol test aids in preventing heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions through early intervention, early detection of trauma-related biomarkers can help providers shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention of trauma-induced diseases.

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iXpressGenes