Blood test to tell if you’re allergic to hip implants

 

London: A simple blood test will now reveal whether you are allergic to metals before you undergo an implant surgery. A Mysore Medical College alumni Vijaya Knight is part of a team that has discovered blood tests to access whether you are allergic to nickel. Researchers are also working on developing blood tests to other allergens, like cobalt and bone cement that make up most of the implants.
   The number of Indians undergoing a knee or a hip replacement is rocketing in India. By 2030, more than 11,000 people a day are expected to have implant surgeries in US alone, an increase of 174% for hip replacements and nearly 700% for knees.
   Karin Pacheco, an allergist at National Jewish Health in Denver said "serious allergies due to implants is a problem that is sure to get worse in the coming years".