A patient is shown their brain scan.

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.

Podcast episode

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Podcast episode in video format

Answers from the Lab is a Mayo Clinic Laboratories curated podcast sharing knowledge and advancements regarding the state of testing, laboratory science, and the people who make it all happen behind the scenes. 

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.

Luci Gens

Luci Gens is a marketing manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She joined Mayo Clinic in 2022 and has over ten years of experience in hospital-based marketing and communications.