§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to investigate the use of(a) ultrasound and (b) biochemical tests in combination with Dexa scanning for identifying osteoporosis in (i) the population and (ii) a sub-set of the population. [42972]
§ Jacqui SmithWe maintain an interest in the development of all technologies for the investigation or monitoring of patients suspected of being at risk of osteoporosis. We work closely with the National Osteoporosis Society. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry is currently the preferred method for the assessment of bone mineral density in individuals selected to be at high risk of fracture based on clinical risk factor assessment.