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<p>The presence of abnormal prion protein is currently taken as a marker for asymptomatic carriage of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or for symptomatic infection. A recent study to assess carriage by looking at stored appendix tissue samples, first published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about 1 in 2,000.</p><p>There is no monitoring of people who may carry the abnormal prion protein; all appendix prevalence studies are anonymised.</p><p>No routine screening can yet take place as there are no suitable validated screening tests for abnormal prion protein available. The Department, together with the United Kingdom Blood Services, continues to monitor, scientific research and development in this area.</p> |