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HelpEPIC ORDER CODE LAB4816 Phospho-Tau 217, Plasma
Additional Codes
SQ CODE: PT217M
MAYO CODE: PT217
Ordering Guidance
This assay is useful for individuals presenting with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. Results must be interpreted in conjunction with other diagnostic tools such as neurological examination, neurobehavioral tests, imaging, and routine laboratory tests.
This assay should not be ordered for individuals younger than 50 years or in cognitively unimpaired individuals regardless of age.
This assay should not be used to predict the development of dementia or other neurologic conditions.
Specimen Required
Collection Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic screw-top vial
Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL
Collection Information: Centrifuge and aliquot plasma into plastic vial. Do not submit in original tube.
Useful For
Evaluation of individuals, aged 50 years and older, presenting with cognitive impairment who are being assessed for Alzheimer disease and other causes of cognitive decline
This test is not intended as a screening test for Alzheimer disease in asymptomatic individuals.
Method Name
Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay
Reporting Name
Phospho-Tau(217), PSpecimen Type
EDTA PlasmaSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDTA Plasma | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 90 days | ||
| Ambient | 72 hours |
Reject Due To
| Gross hemolysis | Reject |
| Gross lipemia | OK |
| Gross icterus | OK |
Clinical Information
The two main neuropathologic features observed in the brain of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) are the presence of plaques composed of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) proteins. To date, positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are the most widely used biomarkers in clinical practice for detection of Abeta and tau pathologies. There are several PET tracers that can detect the load of Abeta fibrils in the brain (amyloid-PET). Studies have demonstrated high concordance between the in vivo uptake of these amyloid-PET tracers and the density of Abeta plaques as determined post-mortem. In CSF, Abeta42 concentrations and especially the ratios of Abeta42/Abeta40 and p-Tau181/Abeta42 concentrations correlate strongly with amyloid-PET status and AD neuropathology. Several CSF Abeta and p-Tau assays on high-performing, fully automated platforms are currently used in clinical practice. However, there is a need for accurate AD blood-based biomarkers that are easily accessible and minimally invasive.
Different p-Tau isoforms that are increased in the presence of amyloid pathology are detectable in plasma, including pTau181, pTau217, and pTau231. Head-to-head comparisons of assays for p-Tau181, p-Tau217, and p-Tau231 using plasma from patients with mild cognitive impairment indicate that increases in plasma p-Tau217 were superior at detecting AD pathology and predicting future development of AD dementia. Both p-Tau181 and p-Tau217 were associated with both Abeta plaques and tau tangles, with p-Tau217 showing stronger correlations with both pathologies. In addition, plasma concentrations of p-Tau217, but not p-Tau181 and p-Tau231, have been shown to increase over time in people with abnormal brain Abeta deposition correlating with brain atrophy and cognitive decline.
Reference Values
Negative: ≤0.185 pg/mL
Intermediate: 0.186-0.324 pg/mL
Positive: ≥0.325 pg/mL
Interpretation
Negative: A normal (negative) phosphorylated Tau217 (p-Tau217) result is consistent with a negative (normal) amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) scan result. This result indicates a reduced likelihood that an individual has neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer disease.
Intermediate: An intermediate p-Tau217 result cannot accurately differentiate between the presence or absence of neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer disease. Further testing, such as amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid Abeta42 and tau biomarkers, is needed to determine the likelihood of neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer disease being present.
Positive: An elevated (positive) p-Tau217 result is consistent with a positive (abnormal) amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) scan result. This result is consistent with the presence of neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer disease. In the proper clinical context this test is supportive of Alzheimer disease being related to current clinical symptoms. This test has not been demonstrated to provide information on the risk of an asymptomatic individual developing symptoms related to Alzheimer disease in the future.
Clinical performance of this test was established in a study of 427 individuals aged 50 years and older with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia with a 64% prevalence of amyloid pathology defined by an amyloid-PET and a Centiloid scale value of 25 or more. For detection of an abnormal amyloid-PET, pTau217 test sensitivity at the lower cutpoint (≤0.185 pg/mL) was 92% and the specificity at the upper cutpoint (≥0.325 pg/mL) was 96%. The diagnostic performance of this test has not been established in asymptomatic individuals.
Clinical Reference
1. Arranz J, Zhu N, Rubio-Guerra S, et al. Diagnostic performance of plasma pTau 217, pTau 181, Ab 1-42 and Ab 1-40 in the LUMIPULSE automated platform for the detection of Alzheimer disease. Preprint. Res Sq. 2023;rs.3.rs-3725688. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3725688/v1
2. Brum WS, Cullen NC, Janelidze S, et al. A two-step workflow based on plasma p-tau217 to screen for amyloid b positivity with further confirmatory testing only in uncertain cases. Nat Aging. 2023;3(9):1079-1090. doi:10.1038/s43587-023-00471-5
3. Mattsson-Carlgren N, Collij LE, Stomrud E, et al. Plasma biomarker strategy for selecting patients with Alzheimer disease for antiamyloid immunotherapies JAMA Neurol. 2024;81(1):69-78. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.4596
4. Janelidze S, Berron D, Smith R, et al. Associations of plasma phospho-tau217 levels with tau positron emission tomography in early Alzheimer disease. JAMA Neurol. 2021;78(2):149-156. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.4201
5. Blennow K, Galasko D, Perneczky R, et al. The potential clinical value of plasma biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2023;19(12):5805-5816. doi:10.1002/alz.13455
6. Ashton NJ, Puig-Pijoan A, Mila-Aloma M, et al. Plasma and CSF biomarkers in a memory clinic: Head-to-head comparison of phosphorylated tau immunoassays. Alzheimers Dement. 2023;19(5):1913-1924. doi:10.1002/alz.12841
7. Mielke MM, Dage JL, Frank RD, et al. Performance of plasma phosphorylated tau 181 and 217 in the community. Nat Med. 2022;28(7):1398-1405. doi:10.1038/s41591-022-01822-2
8. Palmqvist S, Janelidze S, Quiroz YT, et al. Discriminative Accuracy of Plasma Phospho-tau217 for Alzheimer Disease vs Other Neurodegenerative Disorders. JAMA. 2020;324(8):772-781. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.12134
9. Gonzalez-Ortiz F, Kac PR, Brum WS, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Karikari TK. Plasma phospho-tau in Alzheimer's disease: towards diagnostic and therapeutic trial applications. Mol Neurodegener. 2023;18(1):18. doi:10.1186/s13024-023-00605-8
10. Barthelemy NR, Horie K, Sato C, Bateman RJ. Blood plasma phosphorylated-tau isoforms track CNS change in Alzheimer's disease. J Exp Med. 2020;217(11):e20200861. doi:10.1084/jem.20200861
11. Jack CR, Wiste HJ, Algeciras-Schimnich A, et al. Predicting amyloid PET and tau PET stages with plasma biomarkers. Brain. 2023;146(5):2029-2044. doi:10.1093/brain/awad042
12. Karikari TK, Ashton NJ, Brinkmalm G, et al. Blood phospho-tau in Alzheimer disease: analysis, interpretation, and clinical utility. Nat Rev Neurol. 2022;18(7):400-418. doi:10.1038/s41582-022-00665-2
Method Description
Plasma calibrator or specimen are added to particle solution. Phosphorylated Tau217 (p-Tau217) in specimens or calibrators specifically binds to anti-p-Tau217 monoclonal antibody (mouse) on the particles and antigen-antibody immunocomplexes are formed. The particles are washed and rinsed to remove unbound materials. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-labeled anti-Tau monoclonal antibodies (mouse) are added and specifically bind to the prior formed immunocomplexes on the particles, and additional immunocomplexes are formed. The particles are washed and rinsed to remove unbound materials. Substrate solution is added and mixed with the particles and 3-(2'-spiroadamantane)-4-methoxy-4-(3"-phosphoryloxy) phenyl-1,2-dioxetane disodium salt (AMPPD) contained in the substrate solution is dephosphorylated by the catalysis of ALP indirectly conjugated to particles. Luminescence (at a maximum wavelength of 477 nm) is generated by the cleavage reaction of dephosphorylated AMPPD. The luminescent signal reflects the amount of p-Tau217 in the sample.(Unpublished Mayo method)
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Report Available
1 to 3 daysSpecimen Retention Time
3 monthsPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
83520
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| PT217 | Phospho-Tau(217), P | 104663-0 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 217PT | pTau217, P | 104663-0 |
| PTINT | pTau217 Interpretation | 69048-7 |
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732) with the specimen.