LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Groundbreaking pTau217 Blood Test as Accurate as Brain Imaging or CSF Testing in Diagnosing Alzheimer's

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 21 Mar 2024
Image: The novel blood-based biomarker assay offers a simple, accessible, timely, and cost-effective approach to Alzheimer`s diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Shuttestock)
Image: The novel blood-based biomarker assay offers a simple, accessible, timely, and cost-effective approach to Alzheimer`s diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Shuttestock)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that causes the brain to deteriorate over time, marked by the buildup of certain harmful proteins that eventually lead to a decline in brain function and cell death. These changes can happen long before any symptoms show up. Scientists have found certain proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid that are good indicators of AD. One of the most promising markers for early and more precise detection of AD in the blood is phosphorylated tau at position 217 (pTau217). It's seen as a game-changer for diagnosing AD sooner, categorizing patients for research studies, and improving how patients are cared for and treated. Now, an innovative and novel blood test can be used in the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of AD based on the circulating level of this promising biomarker pTau217.

ALZpath Dx (Carlsbad, CA, USA) has developed a robust and scalable plasma-based ultra-sensitive assay, branded ALZpathDx, utilizing a proprietary monoclonal pTau217 antibody and peptide calibrator. This blood-based ELISA assay has been developed on the semi-automated single-molecule array (Simoa) platform. ALZpathDx measures pTau217 in blood, which can signal amyloid and tau accumulation in the brain years prior to the onset of cognitive symptoms. ALZpathDx also correlates strongly with prior diagnostic methods, including positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, the current gold standard diagnostic technique. Additionally, this blood-based test is as accurate as brain imaging or CSF testing but is faster, more accessible, less expensive, and less invasive, and it does not require radiation exposure.

An international peer-reviewed study evaluating the performance of its ALZpath Dx assay in a 786-patient study found that the ultra-sensitive immunoassay showed high diagnostic accuracy in identifying elevated amyloid in the brain across all cohorts. The accuracy was significantly higher than other blood-based biomarker combinations and equivalent to cerebrospinal fluid (spinal tap) biomarkers. It demonstrated high accuracy in predicting AD brain pathologies (amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles) as identified by PET imaging. The validation study used over 1,700 samples with amyloid PET imaging and 150 subjects with post-mortem (autopsy) pathology, demonstrating an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94, significantly exceeding the 90% accuracy threshold for a standalone diagnostic AD test proposed by the Alzheimer's Association Workgroup.

Gold Member
Immunochromatographic Assay
CRYPTO Cassette
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
Gold Member
Hybrid Pipette
SWITCH
Automated MALDI-TOF MS System
EXS 3000

Channels

Immunology

view channel
Image: Circulating tumor cells isolated from blood samples could help guide immunotherapy decisions (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Identifies Lung Cancer Patients Who Can Benefit from Immunotherapy Drug

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options, and even newly approved immunotherapies do not benefit all patients. While immunotherapy can extend survival for some,... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: New evidence suggests that imbalances in the gut microbiome may contribute to the onset and progression of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Comprehensive Review Identifies Gut Microbiome Signatures Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 6.7 million people in the United States and nearly 50 million worldwide, yet early cognitive decline remains difficult to characterize. Increasing evidence suggests... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Vitestro has shared a detailed visual explanation of its Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (photo courtesy of Vitestro)

Robotic Technology Unveiled for Automated Diagnostic Blood Draws

Routine diagnostic blood collection is a high‑volume task that can strain staffing and introduce human‑dependent variability, with downstream implications for sample quality and patient experience.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: Roche’s cobas® Mass Spec solution enables fully automated mass spectrometry in routine clinical laboratories (Photo courtesy of Roche)

New Collaboration Brings Automated Mass Spectrometry to Routine Laboratory Testing

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that identifies and quantifies molecules based on their mass and electrical charge. Its high selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy make it indispensable... Read more