
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, December 6, 1993                   TAG: 9312060068
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: HOUSTON                                LENGTH: Short

BLOOD TEST MAY INDICATE IMPLANT RUPTURE

A private laboratory says it has developed a blood test that could provide a simpler way for women to find out if their silicone breast implants have ruptured.

Some scientists, however, say researchers first must determine if silicone implants really are harmful. And one researcher dismisses the test completely.

Emerald Biomedical Sciences Inc. says the test measures antibodies created by the body in reaction to silicone, the substance used in devices implanted in more than 1 million American women.

"What we're finding is women with ruptures or leakage have significantly higher antibody levels," said Richard Furlin, president of the company based in The Woodlands, north of Houston.

Furlin said the lab is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market the test.

He said it could be used instead of surgery or expensive nonsurgical tests such as magnetic resonance imaging to determine if implants have ruptured or are leaking. He also said it might aid researchers in discovering whether a link exists between implants and disease. - Associated Press

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB