Siemens Healthineers has introduced a set of blood-based research assays aimed at advancing the study of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s, as part of a broader expansion of its brain health research portfolio.

The Germany-based imaging and diagnostics company said its Atellica IM phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) and brain-derived tau (BDTau) assays are now available for research use. The tests are designed to measure concentrations of tau proteins in blood using chemiluminescent immunoassay technology on the company’s Atellica analyzers.

The assays are intended for research use only and are not cleared for clinical diagnostics. They are positioned as tools to help investigators better understand disease mechanisms and progression, particularly in neurodegenerative conditions.
Blood-based biomarker testing has drawn attention as a less invasive alternative to cerebrospinal fluid sampling, which requires lumbar puncture. According to Siemens Healthineers, the assays are designed to support high-sensitivity detection of neurological biomarkers in plasma.

“Siemens Healthineers is laser-focused on expanding researchers’ access to blood testing that can reduce the burden of invasive testing to better understand these diseases and help address the growing societal impact of neurodegenerative conditions,” said Jim Freeman, head of core laboratory solutions R&D for diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers.

The company is also participating in multiple research collaborations aimed at validating the clinical relevance of tau biomarkers. These include studies with PREDICTOM, ACCESS-AD, and the Banner Sun Health Research Institute.

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