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pTau 181 - Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (rule out) Blood Test

 

PTAU 181 - ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE SCREENING (RULE OUT) BLOOD TEST

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based on 5,700+ reviews
£449.00
+ £35.00 clinic fee
£449.00 - £449.00
£449.00
£449.00 - £449.00
1 BIOMARKER
15 WORKING DAYS
INSTRUCTIONS
FAQ

Worried about memory changes? The pTau 181 blood test checks a key Alzheimer’s biomarker from one simple sample. This test is available at our UK clinics nationwide.

Simple and accurate blood test from a laboratory you can speak to.

TEST RESTRICTIONS

If you are under the age of 55 - this test is not for you, this test is intended for use in adults 55 and over.

By booking this test, you acknowledge that your results cannot be interpreted by the One Day Tests GP team and cannot usually be interpreted in the NHS. The interpretation of this test should be undertaken by a neurologist or psychiatrist with a special interest in dementia.


STEP 1 - CHOOSE YOUR SAMPLE COLLECTION OPTION
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pTau 181 - ALTZHEIMER'S DISEASE SCREENING (RULE OUT) BLOOD TEST OVERVIEW

pTau-181 is an innovative blood test that can be used as one part of the assessment for Alzheimer’s disease. It is designed for use in people over the age of 55 who are experiencing memory problems. 

Alzheimer’s disease can develop gradually, and changes in memory or thinking can have a number of different causes. The pTau-181 blood test measures a protein in your blood associated with biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

A negative result

A negative result means that the level of the protein called phosphorylated tau 181 in your blood is below the test’s established threshold. 

The pTau-181 test has a very strong ‘negative predictive value’ up to 97% in some studies.  This means that a negative result indicates that Alzheimer’s disease is highly unlikely to be present (although other forms of dementia may still be present). 

This is why pTau-181 is considered a ‘rule out’ test only. 

A positive result

A result above the threshold suggests that further investigation may be worthwhile. It does NOT automatically mean you have Alzheimer’s disease, as the result needs to be considered alongside your symptoms and other clinical information.

The test does not test for other forms of dementia such as Lewy-Body dementia, vascular dementia, or frontotemporal dementia. By itself, the blood test cannot diagnose or exclude Alzheimer’s disease but should be used as part of a full assessment including formal memory testing, physical examination and further tests such as brain scanning.

Outside of trial and research settings, this test is generally not available on the NHS, nor is the expertise to interpret the result. The One Day Tests GP team is NOT able to interpret this test for you and it is strongly recommended that you discuss the results with a neurologist or psychiatrist with a special interest in dementia.

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PTAU 181 - ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SCREENING (RULE OUT) BLOOD TEST

pTau-181 is a newer blood test that can form one part of an assessment for Alzheimer’s disease. It is intended for people aged over 55 who are having problems with their memory.

Alzheimer’s disease often develops slowly, and changes in memory or thinking can be caused by a range of different things. The pTau-181 blood test measures a protein in your blood that is associated with the biological changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

1 BIOMARKER

  1. PROTEIN

    - pTau 181

  1. TURNAROUND TIME

    We are extremely fast, with some results available within hours and others within a working day or less, from the time your sample is in our lab. However, this is not a guarantee and should not be taken as such. This is the guideline turnaround time that can be shorter or longer.


    THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEED TURNAROUND TIME.


    We are extremely proud of our very short turnaround times and a very efficient laboratory processes, you will start receiving results as soon as they are available and have completed clinical validation.


    Whilst we accommodate the shortest of time scales, with some results available within hours, for this particular test the usual turnaround time is: 15 Working Days.

  1. WILL I HAVE A GENERAL EXPLANATION OF MY RESULTS?

    Yes, our doctors put a huge amount of effort into your online Health Dashboard, which will have explanations of what each biomarker is, the normal reference ranges and what it means if you are outside of them.


    This service is included in the price of all our tests.

  1. CAN I SEE A GP TO DISCUSS MY RESULTS?

    Yes, usually the same or next day.


    One Day Tests has a fantastic clinical team of consultants and GPs. Once you have your results you can book an online video consultation to discuss your results.


    Our clinical team consists of practicing NHS and private GPs, who work closely with our laboratory and can tell you what your blood test results mean for you. Having an integrated laboratory and GP services makes your health journey seamless and extremely efficient.


    This service is not included in the price of the test, it is charged separately, should you wish to book it.

DOCTOR'S COMMENTS

Hi, I am Dr. Adam Staten and here's my view on this test as a GP and Clinical Director at One Day Tests.

DR. ADAM STATEN - GP VIEW AND RED FLAG SYMPTOMS

The pTau-181 blood test is a significant  innovation in the investigation of Alzheimer’s disease. Whilst the best use of this test within the NHS is still being established, it is likely that this test, and tests like it, will play a big role in the assessment and management of Alzheimer’s disease in the coming years. 

Red flag symptoms for the pTau 181 - Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (rule out) Blood Test

You should see a doctor if you have any of the symptoms below because they may be a sign of a serious underlying illness. 

  • Progressive memory problems
  • Personality change
  • Acute confusion

Your Results and Health Dashboard

The results of your pTau 181 - Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (rule out) Blood Test will be emailed to you as a secured PDF file, ready for your GP and will also be uploaded to our Health Dashboard area of the website. It’s a unique and powerful tool, powered by our in-house clinical analysis research, to match your biomarkers across test panels and symptoms, as well as provide clinical commentary on all individual biomarkers you tested for.

The health dashboard will also provide "panel level" commentary - a birds eye view of the biomarkers that were tested. This feature allows you to view your test results and clinical commentary, and compare them to previous results, giving you a clear understanding of how your health is progressing.

By using the Health Dashboard, you can identify changes in your biomarkers and make necessary adjustments to your lifestyle. This added value is immense, as it empowers you to monitor your health and make informed decisions about your well-being.

It's free and is available with all of our tests.

SAVE ON CONTINUOUS MONITORING WITH OUR SUBSCRIPTION PLAN

The best way to look after your health is to do so regularly. This is easy to do with our continual monitoring plans which give you a discount on future blood tests. You choose the frequency and we'll do the rest.

When you purchase a subscription, we will deliver your home test kits or allow you to book appointments in line with your chosen frequency. You will be able to track your biomarkers over time in our powerful Health Dashboard, where results will be automatically updated for you. There is a minimum of 3 tests with any subscription, after which you can pause/restart/cancel at any time.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

Hi, I am Stefania Brown, I am the Laboratory Manager at One Day Tests and here are the lab's special requests for the pTau 181 - Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (rule out) Blood Test.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

It is strongly advised that the results of this test are reviewed by a neurologist or psychiatrist with a specialist interest in memory problems and dementia.

You do not need to fast for this test or take it at any particular time of the day.

Clinic appointment - how to prepare for the pTau 181 - Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (rule out) Blood Test

If you are coming into one of our clinics for the test, this is what you need to do before you arrive:

  • Drink plenty of water about an hour before the appointment.
  • Avoid coffee/tea/energy drinks. Water is good!
  • That’s it! We’ll do the rest.

We look forward to receiving your sample in our lab!

WHY CHOOSE US?

Hello! My name is Dr. Vinesh Mistry, I am part of the GP team here at One Day Tests and here is why you should trust us to test your blood.

QUICK AND ACCURATE RESULTS DIRECT FROM A LABORATORY.

We run our own regulated laboratories and our own accredited clinics. We manufacture our own approved home sample collection kits. Your results are looked after by our fantastic clinical governance team and our super-talented biomedical science team.

When you book your test with us - you book directly with the lab. This means accuracy and responsible duty of care, direct access to the provider and extremely fast turnaround times.

Finally, our customer services rock! You can ask the lab a question any time or you can speak to a real human. You can email us on [email protected] or give us a call on 0115 661 21 61.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hi, I am Lana Nela, Lead Nurse, and here is what we are frequently asked about this test.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the pTau 181 - Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (rule out) Blood Test.

Will this test tell me if I have Alzheimer's?

No. The pTau-181 test cannot, by itself, confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. A negative result means that Alzheimer’s disease is extremely unlikely (although other forms of dementia may still be present), but a positive result does not confirm that there is Alzheimer’s disease, it indicates the need for further investigation. The pTau-181 blood test should be taken as a wider assessment of any memory problems.

Why can the One Day Test GP team not interpret this test for me?

The pTau-181 test is a very innovative test. Currently, it is not available on the NHS outside of trial and research settings. At the moment only neurologists and psychiatrists with a special interest in dementia, generally working in the private sector, have the expertise to interpret it properly. A positive result is likely to result in further tests such as brain imaging or a lumbar puncture which are outside the scope of the One Day Tests GP service. A negative result effectively excludes Alzheimer’s disease but leaves a need to further investigate other causes of memory problems. 

How is the pTau-181 test used in the NHS?

In general, the pTau-181 test is not currently used in the NHS. However, there are large scale trials underway at the moment, such as the ‘Blood Biomarker Challenge’ run by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the NIHR, that are rapidly trying to establish how this test is best used. It is widely felt that these tests will revolutionise the way that dementia is assessed. 

How reliable is the pTau-181 test?

The pTau-181 test has a very strong ‘negative predictive value’ up to 97% in some studies. This means that it is very good at saying that Alzheimer’s is NOT present. A negative test therefore allows you to say that Alzheimer’s has been excluded with up to a 97% certainty. It has a much weaker ‘positive predictive value’. This means it is not very good at saying that Alzheimer’s disease IS present. For this reason, a positive result (sometimes described as a ‘not-negative’ result) does not confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Can Alzheimer’s disease be cured?

No, Alzheimer’s disease is currently a progressive and, ultimately, terminal disease. There are a range of treatments available that may help to slow the progression of the disease but none that can cure it. Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is an area of very active research at the moment and there is optimism that treatments will be available within the next few years, both to treat the condition and to prevent it in those identified to be at high risk of the disease. 

WHY HAVE THE TEST?

Hi, I am Nader Eldarf, I am a Biomedical Scientist in our laboratory and here is why it's important to take this test.

  1. WHY HAVE THE PTAU 181 - ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE SCREENING (RULE OUT) BLOOD TEST?

    The pTau-181 test can provide reassurance that Alzheimer’s disease is not present when performed as part of a holistic assessment of memory problems.

IS THIS TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?

Hi, I am Sandeep Patel, I am the Laboratory Director at One Day Tests. Here are the symptoms that you may wish to address with this test.

  1. IS THE PTAU 181 - ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE SCREENING (RULE OUT) BLOOD TEST RIGHT FOR YOU?

    The pTau-181 test is for people concerned about the possibility of having Alzheimer’s disease. This may particularly include those with a strong family history of the disease. A negative result can provide reassurance that Alzheimer’s disease is not present.

  1. SYMPTOMS AND TAGS

    Anxiety, Confusion, Irritability and Memory issues

WHY ARE BLOOD TESTS IMPORTANT?

Health monitoring is very important, you are in charge of your health - look after it.