Blood- and CSF-based Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration

BC Neuroimmunology Lab (BCNI) is the first diagnostic laboratory in Canada to offer comprehensive testing for AD and other neurodegenerative disease (NNDs) using Simoa and Lumipulse (Fujirebio) instruments. Fujirebio Diagnostics’ recently FDA­ cleared blood test for Alzheimer’s disease-the first of its kind approved in the United States and ALZpath plasma p-tau217 on Simoa platform. The Lumipulse G pTau217-Aβ 1-42 Plasma Ratio test, along with other advanced assays such as plasma pTau2 l 7, neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), is now available at BCNI for use by physicians and researchers.
 
These blood-based tests provide a minimally invasive alternative to traditional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diagnostics, which require lumbar puncture, and are valuable tools for identifying and differentiating a wide range of NNDs. The FDA-approved Fujirebio test measures the ratio of two key biomarkers, plasma pTau217 and P-amyloid 1-42, used to assess amyloid pathology associated with AD. Compared to CSF analysis and PET imaging, blood-based testing is more accessible, scalable, and holds a significant promise for transforming early detection and care planning in Alzheimer’s disease. It empowers primary care physicians to triage patients more efficiently for neurological referrals, helping to address one of the key challenges in timely diagnosis.