Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

Columbia (WACH) - A new test is giving hope to those with Scoliosis, including a young Midlands child who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

Eliza Hiller is your typical 11-year-old. She's a very active and loves to dance. But recently, Hiller was diagnosed with Scoliosis. 

Before Hiller's options were wearing a brace, undergoing countless tests or having surgery, until now.

"Thats what makes Scoliosis really a stressful situation because there are no symptoms," says Dr. Mark Locke.

Dr. Locke is the Director of Pediatric Orthopedics at the Moore Orthopedic Clinic. Locke says thanks to a new test doctors have a new option.

"It's taking the guess work and helping us accurately assess people accurately and treat them and get great results," adds Dr. Locke.
.            
It's a quick and easy test it's called Scoliscore, a saliva based DNA test that can tell doctors the best course of treatment for patients like Hiller.

"She would have had a lot more x-rays so you check a lot which is radiation and she would have possibly gone into the brace unnecessarily and the change is by taking this test and looking at the results you make a clear cut decision based on facts not on guesswork," says Dr.Locke.

Patients provide a sample and that is sent to a lab where they compare DNA to known scoliosis samples then the patient receives a score.

"They run the genetic testing on the saliva they come back with a score in this test a high score is bad news and low is good news," says Dr. Locke. 
 
Thanks to the new test, Eliza found out she has mild Scoliosis and doesn't have to make many changes to her daily routine.

"I have corrections I have to do and sometimes at school I'll do them quietly and it won't hurt anymore," says Hiller.

"We took something they've been working on for ten years and now were running this test and every kid in South Carolina will benefit, "adds Dr. Locke.