Unilabs Switzerland introduces blood-based pTau217 testing for the assessment of Alzheimer's-associated amyloid pathology

Coppet, Switzerland, October 26, 2026 – Unilabs Switzerland is introducing Elecsys® pTau217 testing into its diagnostic portfolio, giving physicians access to a blood-based tool to assess the likelihood of Alzheimer's-associated amyloid pathology.

The CE-IVDR-certified Roche assay is intended for patients aged 55 years and older with signs, symptoms or complaints of cognitive decline. It measures phosphorylated tau 217 in plasma and is designed to support clinical assessment of patients presenting with cognitive decline.¹

Its introduction comes at a time when the burden of dementia is expected to increase significantly as populations age, creating a growing need for diagnostic approaches that can provide clinically relevant information efficiently and at scale.

“Plasma-based pTau217 testing can provide clinically relevant information as part of the diagnostic pathway,” says Dany Mercan, Head of Medical, Unilabs Switzerland. “Elecsys® pTau217 can support clinical assessment and help identify patients who may benefit from further specialist evaluation. As a blood-based biomarker, it complements established diagnostic approaches such as CSF analysis and amyloid PET. This provides an additional tool in the assessment of patients with cognitive decline.”

An additional tool for clinical assessment

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and amyloid PET remain important diagnostic tools in the assessment of Alzheimer's-associated pathology. However, lumbar puncture is invasive, while PET requires specialised infrastructure and the administration of a radioactive tracer.

Elecsys® pTau217 provides an additional tool within the diagnostic pathway. The assay measures phosphorylated tau 217 in plasma and classifies the likelihood of amyloid pathology as low, intermediate or high. The result may help clinicians assess whether further specialist evaluation or additional diagnostic testing is appropriate.

“Bringing the Elecsys® pTau217 test to the people who need it through Unilabs Switzerland is a meaningful milestone in our mission to expand access to Alzheimer's-associated biomarker testing. With an estimated 75% of people living with dementia globally remaining undiagnosed², expanding access to minimally invasive biomarker testing is important,” says Simona Mellino, International Business Leader, Neurology, Roche Diagnostics. “This test provides clinicians with additional information to support the assessment of patients with cognitive decline.”

Clinical performance

Published clinical studies in symptomatic patients with cognitive impairment have evaluated the performance of Elecsys® pTau217 in assessing amyloid pathology.¹,³

Results in the intermediate range may require further evaluation to help clarify the likelihood of amyloid pathology. A result indicating a high likelihood of amyloid pathology does not by itself establish a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Results must always be interpreted together with the patient's clinical presentation and other relevant diagnostic findings.

Supporting more targeted assessment

Amyloid accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation can begin years before the first clinical symptoms appear. Information about the likelihood of amyloid pathology may support decisions about further specialist assessment and additional diagnostic investigations.

“Diagnostic innovation plays an important role in supporting physicians and patients throughout the diagnostic pathway,” says Amit Nastik, Chief Commercial Officer, Unilabs, & General Manager, Switzerland. “By introducing Elecsys® pTau217 testing into our Swiss portfolio, we are helping make advanced biomarker diagnostics more accessible and giving physicians an additional tool to support informed clinical decision-making.”

Elecsys® pTau217 testing is now available through Unilabs Switzerland for eligible patients aged 55 years and older with signs, symptoms or complaints of cognitive decline.

Important information

Elecsys® pTau217 is intended for use by trained healthcare professionals and is not intended for direct patient application. It is not a substitute for clinical judgment. Results must always be interpreted by qualified healthcare professionals together with the patient's clinical findings, medical history and other relevant diagnostic information.

Patients should consult their health insurance provider regarding reimbursement. If coverage is declined, the patient may be responsible for the cost of the test.

About Unilabs
Unilabs is one of the leading providers of diagnostic services in Europe, offering a complete range of laboratory, pathology, genetics and imaging services to patients across four continents. 

With over 13,000 employees, 1,300 laboratories and over 2,100 sample collection points, the company treats around 250 million patients annually, performs 237 million laboratory tests and 6 million imaging examinations and analyzes 9 million pathology sections. In this way, Unilabs helps hundreds of millions of patients and their doctors to make informed decisions.