Springdale, Ark., companies produce tear test for breast cancer

Springdale, Ark.-based research company Ascendent DX has created a test to detect breast cancer through a person’s tears.

The test works by placing a Schirmer strip in a person’s eye to extract a tear, then putting the tear on a strip, where it identifies certain levels of protein biomarkers, and the color indicates if it detects cancer.

The test isn’t designed to replace mammograms, but they should help indicate a need for one to identify the location of the cancer.

The test is currently a prototype made by another Springdale-based company, NOW Diagnostics.

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