Yong Huang
Abstract
A biomarker may be a traceable material that is introduced into an organism as a way of testing organ function or other aspects of health. Rubidium chloride, for example, is used as a radioactive isotope to evaluate the perfusion of the heart muscle. It may also be a substance whose identification suggests a particular disease state, such as the presence of an antibody that may signify an infection. More precisely, a biomarker indicates a difference in the expression or state of a protein that corresponds with the incidence or progression of the disease or the susceptibility of the disease to a given treatment.