A pilot study presented at the 17th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference highlights the potential of a finger-prick blood test to measure p-tau217, a key biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The study demonstrated a strong correlation between p-tau217 levels from capillary dried plasma spot (DPS) samples and standard venous plasma. Capillary samples, collected via a single finger prick and processed without temperature control, discriminated amyloid-positive from amyloid-negative individuals and showed biomarker level progression across cognitive impairment stages.
The test offers advantages over venous sampling, being less invasive and independent of specialised equipment. Capillary p-tau217 remained stable at room temperature for two weeks, and unsupervised self-collection proved reliable. These findings, part of the DROP-AD project, suggest that finger-prick sampling could enhance accessibility and support remote and rural testing. Further validation is required, but this approach may simplify early diagnosis and facilitate equitable access to AD biomarker testing in clinical practice.
Read more on Medscape.
Watch Wiley video highlights from CTAD
