New £80 Blood Test Shows 86% Accuracy in Early Parkinson’s Detection

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a PCR-based test that identifies Parkinson’s disease before full symptoms emerge, with large-scale trials now underway.

The blood test analyzes transfer RNA fragments (tRFs) and mitochondrial RNA levels to detect early molecular changes linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Using PCR technology, the test amplifies genetic markers for accurate detection, leveraging infrastructure from the COVID-19 era.
The test demonstrated 86% accuracy in distinguishing Parkinson’s patients, including those with subtle early symptoms, from healthy individuals.
Early diagnosis could enable timely therapeutic interventions to protect dopamine-producing brain cells and potentially slow disease progression.
Led by Professor Hermona Soreq, the research team has filed provisional patents and is preparing for large-scale diagnostic trials to support clinical adoption.