The diagnostic paradigm for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has rapidly shifted in the last five years as fluid-based biomarker testing has emerged as a reliable, accurate, and accessible means to detect amyloid pathology when evaluating a patient for cognitive decline. This activity is designed to help pathologists and laboratory professionals gain an understanding of plasma testing for markers such as Abeta40/42, P-tau181, and P-tau217 which are rapidly appearing in the commercial space and how healthcare providers have begun incorporating these tests into routine neurology practice. This course will help participants to understand the advantages and limitations of these assays as well as their potential application when a physician is evaluating a patient for AD.
Course topics include:
- The role of plasma-based biomarker diagnostics in the clinical evaluation of patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for AD
- Scientific and clinical considerations for the pathologist when evaluating such plasma-based biomarker assays
- Practical considerations for implementing these assays in the clinical laboratory
Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of pathologists and laboratory professionals.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
- Explain the basic pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and most recently approved drugs for treatment.
- Describe the clinical utility of AD biomarkers and correlation of biomarkers with findings of brain imaging.
- Discuss commercially available immunoassays for measuring AD biomarkers and implementation in the core lab.
Faculty
Amitava Dasgupta, Ph.D.
Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
The University of Kansas Health System
University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas
Kelsey Woodard, MLS (ASCP)
Chemistry and Special Chemistry Supervisor, Clinical Laboratory
The University of Kansas Health System
University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas
Faculty Disclosures
Amitava Dasgupta and Kelsey Woodard have no financial relationships to disclose.
Accreditation Statement
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
The ASCP designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ASCP designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 CMLE credit. This activity meets CMP and state re-licensure requirements for laboratory personnel.
For questions regarding CME credit, please contact ASCP Customer Service at 1-800-267-2727, option 2, in the US & Canada or internationally at access code + 3-1-312-541-4890. Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm CT.
Method of Participation
To complete the activity and receive credit, the participant must participate in the course. CME certificates will be provided online.
Commercial Support
This activity is supported by an independent educational grant by Lilly.