Labcorp blood test identifies signs of neurodegenerative disease

Labcorp Diagnostics announced the launch of the first widely accessible blood test that provides direct evidence of neurodegeneration and neuronal injury.

In a company press release, the global life sciences firm stated the neurofilament light chain (NfL) test is expected to allow for the identification and verification of signs of neurodegenerative disease and, in turn, will grant physicians a more effective and efficient path to diagnosis and treatment for patients.

Elevated NfL levels signal neuronal injury, whether from diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s or brain injury, such as with concussion.

One of three main neurofilament types, NfL has been the most commonly studied in research settings, but a reliable NfL test had not been widely available for patient care, according to the release.

NfL is performed on a standard blood collection that can be done at a hospital, physician’s office or at any of Labcorp’s nearly 2,000 patient service centers, the company said.

“NfL is a simple, objective blood test that provides direct evidence of neuronal damage,” Brian Caveney, MD, chief medical officer and president, Labcorp Diagnostics, stated in the release. “In making this test widely available, Labcorp is supporting neurologists with a tool they’ve been asking for that enables faster diagnoses, better treatment decisions and improved patient care.”