The National Dementia Diagnostics Laboratory (NDDL), located at The Florey Institute within the University of Melbourne, is the only National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) accredited testing laboratory in Australia to provide CSF diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s Disease.

To undertake CSF tests, NDDL is currently utilising the Roche automated Elecsys platform – an in vitro diagnostic immunoassay intended for the quantitative determination of the total tau protein concentration in human CSF. Having recently received FDA approval, Elecsys provides excellent precision and high throughput capacity enhancing diagnostic accuracy and physician confidence.

The test involves a lumbar puncture to collect CSF into a specific tube and the specimen is then forwarded to the NDDL for testing, performed weekly. Based on the NDDL’s and international experience, CSF biomarkers are concordant with amyloid PET imaging and offer approximately ~90% sensitivity and specificity for Alzheimer’s Disease. The test is intended to provide support for the clinical diagnosis of AD in patients presenting with cognition deficiency. It also helps with the selection of appropriate participants for enrolment in AD treatment trials.

The test is not currently covered by Medicare. Please contact NDDL or visit the website for further details.

References: Hansson et al. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 2018, 14: 1470; Schindler et al. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 14 2018, 1460; Doecke et al. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2021,13:79. 

Phone: (03) 9035 7243

Email: enquiries-nddl@unimelb.edu.au
Web: https://florey.edu.au/our-research/scientific-facilities-and-research-services/national-dementia-diagnostics-laboratory/