Saliva test to help diagnose concussion

Spitting into a hand-held device could soon be a way of diagnosing concussions in sports.

For the upcoming season in English rugby, players in the top two leagues will provide saliva samples as part of major study into concussions.

The study is being led by the University of Birmingham, whose researchers say they have identified molecules that can be found in saliva and act as biomarkers to indicate whether the brain has been injured.

Rugby players will give a baseline saliva sample before the season starts and provide another sample beside the field of play if they suffer a confirmed or suspected concussion during a match.

The two samples will be tested and compared in a laboratory.

England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it is the ‘biggest of its kind to take place in the history of UK sport’.

There is the potential for it to be used across all sports and for medics in the military.