Labcorp announced the launch of a widely accessible test that provides direct evidence of neurodegeneration and neuronal injury.
The new Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) blood test will allow doctors to identify and verify signs of neurodegenerative disease, enabling physicians to provide a more effective and efficient path to diagnosis and treatment for patients. Elevated NfL levels signal neuronal injury, whether from diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, or from brain injury, such as with concussion.
Neurological disease presents in many forms, and today, confirmation of disease is often complex and challenging. When neurons are damaged, proteins called neurofilaments are released and are detectable in blood. One of three main neurofilament types, NfL has been the most widely studied in research settings, but a reliable NfL test has not been widely available for patient care. Broad availability to physicians as part of their diagnostic toolbox is expected to provide significant benefits in supporting more effective diagnosis and treatment of many disorders.
The new NfL test is performed from a standard blood collection that can be done at a hospital, physician’s office or at any of Labcorp’s nearly 2,000 patient service centers.
