Prof. Dr. med. Peter Findeisen is a specialist in laboratory medicine and medical director of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the MVZ Laboratory Dr. Limbach & Kollegen in Heidelberg. As an adjunct professor at the University of Heidelberg (Medical Faculty Mannheim), he brings many years of experience in research and teaching – especially in the fields of proteomics, molecular diagnostics and clinical chemistry. At the Limbach Group’s study center, he is responsible for the management of analytical studies and is committed to establishing innovative diagnostics, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Findeisen spoke to MedLabPortal about a project that is unique in Germany and has far-reaching consequences for Alzheimer’s research.

MedLabPortal: The pilot project on the importance of blood-based biomarkers in Alzheimer’s diagnostics is unique in Germany and will run until the end of September 2025. Why did the Limbach Group start this project?

Findeisen: Today, new therapeutic options are available for Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the laboratory is required to better stratify patients who could benefit from therapy using non-invasive methods.

MedLabPortal: You offer the determination of pTau217 in blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples free of charge as part of the study. Which specific groups of doctors can send you these samples?

Findeisen: The offer is primarily aimed at specialists, e.g. in memory outpatient clinics, who care for dementia patients and already have experience with the interpretation of biomarker profiles from cerebrospinal fluid samples. This is primarily about gaining experience. What can a blood-based biomarker test do compared to established laboratory diagnostics from cerebrospinal fluid samples?

MedLabPortal: And what about logistics? It is well known that memory outpatient clinics in particular are severely overloaded and sometimes understaffed.

Findeisen: We offer comprehensive support for this project. After an initial registration via our homepage, all further steps, including logistics, will be organized by our study center.

MedLabPortal: Without wanting to or even being able to anticipate the results: What would be the consequences if it turns out that the determination of pTau217 helps to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier than currently common methods?

Findeisen: The diagnostic performance – i.e. sensitivity and specificity – depends largely on the selection of the patient. If the test is used in a pre-selected collective, i.e. patients with memory impairment, the informative value is significantly better than in an undirected screening on asymptomatic persons. Here, unnecessary follow-up examinations and a high level of uncertainty among those affected are to be feared, especially due to false positive results. However, as a short-term goal of our observational study, we hope that the number of cerebrospinal fluid punctures can be reduced by blood-based diagnostics.

MedLabPortal: In the end, the question of costs always arises. Many people might be willing to pay for such a test themselves. How expensive would this service be for self-payers?

Findeisen: For the reasons set out above, we do not currently offer the test as a self-pay service. The result should always be interpreted in connection with medical history, clinical examination and other findings such as cognitive tests and imaging. Laboratory analysis is to be seen here as a “puzzle piece” in the overall picture of the disease and the “image interpretation” therefore still belongs in the hands of experienced medical colleagues.

MedLabPortal: Thank you for your time!

The questions were asked by Vlad Georgescu

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Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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