Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy | December 4, 2021

Bayoumy S, Verberk IMW, den Dulk B, Hussainali Z, Zwan M, van der Flier WM, Ashton NJ, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Vanbrabant J, Stoops E, Vanmechelen E, Dage JL and Teunissen CE

Alzheimers Res Ther. 2021;13:198

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-021-00939-9

This study was performed using Simoa Homebrew assay(s).

Abstract

Introduction

Studies using different assays and technologies showed highly promising diagnostic value of plasma phosphorylated (P-)tau levels for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We aimed to compare six P-tau Simoa assays, including three P-tau181 (Eli Lilly, ADx, Quanterix), one P-tau217 (Eli Lilly), and two P-tau231 (ADx, Gothenburg).

Methods

We studied the analytical (sensitivity, precision, parallelism, dilution linearity, and recovery) and clinical (40 AD dementia patients, age 66±8years, 50%F; 40 age- and sex-matched controls) performance of the assays.

Results

All assays showed robust analytical performance, and particularly P-tau217 Eli Lilly; P-tau231 Gothenburg and all P-tau181 assays showed robust clinical performance to differentiate AD from controls, with AUCs 0.936–0.995 (P-tau231 ADx: AUC = 0.719). Results obtained with all P-tau181 assays, P-tau217 Eli Lilly assay, and P-tau231 Gothenburg assay strongly correlated (Spearman’s rho > 0.86), while correlations with P-tau231 ADx results were moderate (rho < 0.65).

Discussion

P-tau isoforms can be measured robustly by several novel high-sensitive Simoa assays.