A quick finger prick and a few blood drops on a special card that can be mailed might soon make Alzheimer’s testing more widely available around the globe.
A quick finger prick and a few drops of blood on a card that can be sent in regular mail. This approach could soon make Alzheimer’s testing much more accessible worldwide. A European study led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is paving the way for this method.
This test measures specific biomarkers that have been developed over time and have proven to be effective. Originally tested in cerebrospinal fluid, then in blood samples taken from veins, this new method is now using blood from superficial vessels in the finger.
The innovative test requires one or two drops of blood from a finger prick placed on a specialized card, which separates the blood cells from the plasma right away. After about 15 minutes for drying, the card can be sent by regular mail to a laboratory, where advanced techniques are employed for analysis.
As effective as venous blood sampling
The study examined capillary blood samples from 203 participants who took the finger prick test at one of five memory clinics across Europe. The collected samples were mailed to the neurochemistry department at the University of Gothenburg for analysis of established Alzheimer’s biomarkers, such as pTau217.
The findings were shared by Hanna Huber, a researcher at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy, during the CTAD (Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease) conference in Madrid on October 30, 2024:
“This straightforward capillary blood test is nearly as effective as traditional venous samples, but unlike conventional testing methods, it doesn’t need to be transported on dry ice. This could greatly enhance access to Alzheimer’s testing in areas lacking the necessary infrastructure for high-sensitivity analyses,” remarked Hanna Huber.
This test could be ready for implementation in just a few years. A new European research project is already in progress to explore the possibility of self-administration, allowing individuals to collect their own blood samples and mail them to a lab without requiring healthcare professionals.
Early detection
The introduction of this test is timely, coinciding with the advancement of Alzheimer’s treatments, including the drug lecanemab, which has received approval in several countries outside the EU. These methods are most effective when the disease is detected early.
This test could pave the way for new research advancements in Alzheimer’s disease, including insights into its genetic makeup and its occurrence in different populations worldwide. However, researchers stress that this test should not be used for widespread population screening. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently advises against general screening for Alzheimer’s because treatment options have historically been limited, raising ethical concerns regarding such practices.
The study utilized blood collection cards named Capitainer®SEP10 and Telimmune.
