Blood test for emphysema

    The idea is to create a new blood able to determine if a person is suffering from the early stages of emphysema.
    The blood test will measure levels of endothelial microparticles that fall off the capillary walls into the bloodstream. Higher levels of the microparticles will be more evident in smokers who have lung destruction but have not developed symptoms yet.
    The blood test is supposed to be both an inexpensive and early warning detection solution to diagnosing emphysema in its early stages.