Abstract: A method for detecting a presence of an abnormal component in a keratin sample taken from a subject suffering from a pathological state comprising the steps of exposing the keratin sample to a swelling substance so as to penetrate the keratin sample thereby producing a derived chemical substance; obtaining data from the derived chemical substance; comparing the data obtained from the derived chemical substance with a second group of data contained in a reference database so as to identify the presence of the abnormal component in the keratin sample; whereby detection of the abnormal component is consistent with a presence of the pathological state in the subject.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a keratin sample from a subject to improve sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test for a pathological state in the subject by exposing the keratin sample to incident energy derived from an energy source; receiving radiated energy from the keratin sample consequent upon impingement of the incident energy on the keratin sample; passing at least a portion of the radiated energy received from the keratin sample through a transducer so as to derive subject specific data; processing subject specific derived data; comparing the processed subject specific data thus derived with a second group of reference data present in a reference database; wherein the second group of reference data is consistent with a presence of the pathological state in the subject; and including the steps of applying an appropriate algorithm to said subject specific data prior to said step of comparing thereby to improve sensitivity and specificity relative to said reference data.