We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Simple Blood Test Detects ALS with 98% Accuracy

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 17 Sep 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is presently diagnosed via a neurologist’s clinical examination, but differentiating it from other neurological conditions requires tracking symptom progression, which can be challenging. More...

Given that the average survival time for ALS is about three years, many patients experience significant deterioration before receiving a confirmed diagnosis. Misdiagnosis rates can be as high as 68%, which delays treatment and causes patients to be shuffled between specialists, leading to increased anxiety, unnecessary interventions, and higher healthcare costs. Now, a blood test for diagnosing ALS could be available in as little as two years.

Researchers at Brain Chemistry Labs (Jackson, WY, USA) have discovered an ALS-specific biomarker, an "ALS fingerprint," in the blood. This biomarker, made up of eight microRNAs (miRNAs), can be detected with a simple blood test. The team utilized next-generation sequencing and real-time PCR to analyze blood samples from individuals with ALS, Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and healthy controls. Their findings, published in Brain Communications, show that the eight-microRNA ALS fingerprint can diagnose ALS with up to 98% accuracy and distinguish it from PLS and PD.

To ensure the reliability of the test, it was validated across four different patient groups, in two separate laboratories, using various technicians and collection methods. The ALS fingerprint consistently produced reliable results. Researchers believe that this blood test could aid neurologists in diagnosing ALS, complementing current clinical evaluations. A simple blood test for ALS could be a breakthrough, as it would speed up diagnosis, reduce patient anxiety, lower healthcare costs, and facilitate the development of new treatments. Given the high misdiagnosis rate, a negative result could also be incredibly useful. Brain Chemistry Labs aims to partner with a diagnostic company and make this test widely available to neurologists within the next 18 to 24 months.

“Faster diagnoses will allow for earlier treatment, which will improve patient outcomes,” said Sandra Banack, lead author of the study.

Related Links:
Brain Chemistry Labs


Gold Member
Quantitative POC Immunoassay Analyzer
EASY READER+
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
PBC Assay
Primary Biliary Cholangitis Assays
New
Glucose Tolerance Test
NERL Trutol
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The tip optofluidic immunoassay platform enables rapid, multiplexed antibody profiling using only 1 μL of fingertip blood (Photo courtesy of hLife, DOI:10.1016/j.hlife.2025.04.005)

POC Diagnostic Platform Performs Immune Analysis Using One Drop of Fingertip Blood

As new COVID-19 variants continue to emerge and individuals accumulate complex histories of vaccination and infection, there is an urgent need for diagnostic tools that can quickly and accurately assess... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The LIAISON PLEX® Gram-Positive Blood Culture Assay runs on the on the LIAISON PLEX instrument (Photo courtesy of Diasorin)

Blood Culture Assay Enhances Diagnostic Stewardship Through Targeted Panel Selection

Each year, around 250,000 individuals in the US are diagnosed with bloodstream infections (BSIs). Sepsis caused by these infections carries a mortality rate ranging from 16% to 40%, and any delay in administering... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.