Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics add to roster of blood-based biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s

Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics have both announced the availability of blood-based biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s disease, one which detects glial fibrillary acidic protein and another for phosphorylated tau.

According to a release from Labcorp, the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) test utilizes highly sensitive immunoassay technology to measure levels of the biomarker — which can be found within astrocytes, the brain's support cells — from a simple blood draw that can be conducted both inside and outside the clinical setting. The assay offers physicians a more efficient and rapid means to assess presence and progression of other neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma and traumatic brain injury.

"The introduction of the GFAP biomarker test marks a significant milestone for Labcorp, extending our leadership in the rapidly accelerating field of blood-based biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases,” Brian Caveney, MD, Labcorp's chief medical and scientific officer, said in the release. "The breadth of our portfolio reflects our commitment to providing physicians with cutting-edge technology for the evaluation and treatment of neurodegeneration to enhance and improve patient care."

In a separate release, Quest Diagnostics announced the launch of a blood-based test for phosphorylated tau 217, or p-tau 217, a telltale biomarker associated with AD that can be effective in early diagnosis of the degenerative condition.

Quest’s p-tau blood test joins an in vitro p-tau immunoassay in development by Roche and Eli Lilly & Co. that was granted breakthrough device designation by the FDA earlier in April, as well as a similar assay from Quanterix granted breakthrough designation by the FDA in early March.

“Testing to assess Alzheimer’s disease has changed rapidly in the last few years, and we expect this area to continue evolving,” Michael Racke, MD, medical director of neurology at Quest Diagnostics, said in the release. “The future of assessing risk or diagnosing AD will likely include a variety of testing modalities and biomarkers, including blood, to help clinicians identify patients in the early stages of disease progression.”

Reference:

Quest Diagnostics Adds p-tau217 Blood Biomarker Testing to Suite of Services Designed to Assess Risk and Help Aid Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. https://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/2024-04-22-Quest-Diagnostics-Adds-p-tau217-Blood-Biomarker-Testing-to-Suite-of-Services-Designed-to-Assess-Risk-and-Help-Aid-Diagnosis-of-Alzheimers-Disease?printable. Published April 22, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2024.