American Biogenetic Sciences Inc. presented pilot clinical studyresults on Thursday of a blood test designed to detect earlyonset of heart attack in patients who are having chest pain.

The study of 36 patients correctly predicted clot formation inindividuals later confirmed to have had a heart attack. Tenpatients who were later diagnosed to have other causes ofchest pain were not predicted to have clot formation.

The test measures a soluble fibrin polymer, which is thought tobecome elevated almost as soon as the heart attack patientstarts experiencing chest pain. Current clinical markers do notbecome elevated until many hours later.

The results were presented at the XIV International Congressof the Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in New York byPaul Gargan, director of research and development at the NotreDame, Ind., company (NASDAQ:MABXA).

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