Plasma Test Increases Access to Alzheimer’s Testing: Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Ph.D.

Answers from the Lab

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Ph.D., a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic and co-director of the Clinical Immunoassay Laboratory. They discuss Mayo Clinic’s plasma test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease and how it supports increased access and early detection.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The phospho-Tau 217 plasma test (Mayo ID: PT217) used to evaluate individuals aged 50 years and older with symptoms of cognitive impairment who are being assessed for Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of cognitive decline.
• The benefits of a blood test versus the other diagnostic methods for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Why early diagnosis is so important for quality of life and treatment planning.
• How tests like Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ PT217 may change the landscape of Alzheimer's research and treatment.