A pitchside saliva test to determine whether Rugby Union players have suffered a concussion has been described as game-changing, as reported by the BBC.
Professor Antonio Belli, who is the chief investigator into the trial which was conducted on 156 players who suffered potential head injuries across a two-season period, is the man whose findings are cited in the article by the BBC.
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Professor Belli, as is mentioned by the BBC, has revealed his belief that using saliva tests to detect concussion could have considerable benefits for both the NHS, the military and potentially Premier League football, with the results from the trial on Rugby Union players showing that it has a 94% rate of accuracy.
For now, though, the focus is on the benefits for Rugby Union, where concussion has always been a hot topic, with concerns mounting over long-term effects to players if it’s left undiagnosed and untreated.
The BBC report that the saliva tests could soon be conducted on Rugby Union players in a professional, laboratory environment before long, but pitch-side testing is still some way away.
Nonetheless, Professor Belli has described the progress made as “game-changing”, as quoted by the BBC, and also added: “When I see on TV a player is taken off for the medical saliva test, it will be a major achievement.”
It’s a milestone achievement for protecting the health of Rugby Union players, and it seems as though the benefits could stretch far beyond the game, too.