LifeLabs® is proud to support the following organizations in their efforts to improve the diagnosis and care of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Canada.
Receive the latest news and information on Alzheimer’s disease testing from LifeLabs®.
Diagnosis and care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly evolving. Early diagnosis is key to timely intervention and delaying disease progression.
Improving patient outcomes drives our commitment to offer one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of lab tests for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to help assess potential risk.
LifeLabs® Blood Test Portfolio
LifeLabs® now offers a portfolio of blood-based risk assessment offerings that can help provide a better understanding of a patient’s potential risk for Alzheimer’s disease. As a minimally invasive option, a simple blood test can be the first step to taking action and determining if more comprehensive testing is needed.
*Alternatively, write the name of the test(s) you would like to order (p-tau217, ApoE, Beta Amyloid 42/40 Ratio, p-tau181, NfL, ABeta 42/40 and p-tau217 Evaluation) in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario MOH requisition.
Testing for the phosphorylated tau217 (p-tau217) plasma biomarker can help assess whether mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s disease and can predict progression of MCI to Alzheimer’s disease.4-6
Measurement of plasma p-tau, including p-tau217, can identify those patients who may benefit from further diagnostic testing.4-6 It is concordant with more invasive tests of amyloid status, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing or positron emission tomography (PET).4-8
*Please note this test is currently only available in Ontario.
Assess for Alzheimer’s disease (AD)–associated tau pathology in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia
Phosphorylated tau217 (p-tau217), Plasma – Current research indicates that plasma p-tau, including p-tau217, is concordant with amyloid status defined by either CSF biomarker testing or PET scan analysis, and is able to differentiate between AD and non-AD neurodegenerative diseases and to predict progression to AD. Blood-based biomarkers, such as plasma p-tau, could potentially be used as inclusion criteria or to evaluate target engagement and treatment efficacy, and could further advance the development of disease-modifying treatments in the field of AD and related disorders. This assay is designed specifically for the quantitative measurement of tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) in human plasma.
Fujirebio Immunoassay (IA)
≤0.15 pg/mL
To order the Phosphorylated tau217 (p-tau217), Plasma please download the Alzheimer’s custom requisition or write the name of the test in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario Ministry of Health requisition.
Please note the following:
Results are provided within 10 business days of sample collection. Results are not shared on MyCareCompass (MCC) and are only sent to the ordering healthcare provider (HCP). Results can only be shared with the patient through consultation with their HCP.
The Phosphorylated tau217 (p-tau217), Plasma is currently an uninsured test and only available in Ontario. The cost of the test is $325.
Payment can be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit are accepted.
Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.
ApoE isoforms are associated with risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, knowledge of ApoE isoform status is required for patients considering amyloid-modifying therapies due to the risk of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). Protein phenotyping is 100% concordant with ApoE genotyping results9,10 but offers the advantage of improved sample stability and faster turn-around time.
Genetic counselling support is included with ApoE testing
*Please note this test is currently only available in Ontario.
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) Isoform, Plasma – Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a well-defined genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The human ApoE gene has three polymorphic alleles, E2, E3 and E4 that result in six different genotypes: E2/E2, E2/E3, E3/E3, E2/ E4, E3/E4 and E4/E4. About half of AD patients carry the E4 allele (compared with 14% in the general population), with the majority being heterozygotes (E3/E4). The number of inherited E4 alleles is associated with both increased disease risk and decreased average age of onset compared with inheritance of the E2 or E3 alleles. The differences between the three ApoE isoforms are based on two amino acids that affect its structure and hence the interaction and binding of the protein with various lipids and beta-amyloid (AB). ApoE and AB can co-localize in the brain, and therefore their complementary roles in AD have been studied extensively. Circulating plasma and CSF ApoE levels were recently found to be potential biomarkers for AD.
Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)
100% accuracy in predicting ApoE genotypes (E2/E3/E4)
To order the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) Isoform, Plasma please download the Alzheimer’s custom requisition by clicking here or write the name of the test in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario Ministry of Health requisition.
Please note the following:
Results are provided to the ordering healthcare provider within 12 business days of sample collection. Results are not shared on MyCareCompass (MCC) and are only sent to the ordering healthcare provider (HCP). Results can only be shared with the patient through consultation with their HCP.
Genetic counselling support is included with ApoE testing. A genetic counsellor or healthcare professional may be very helpful in fully understanding the implications of your genetic results, their potential impact on your health, and any necessary next steps. A genetic counsellor can be reached at 1-844-363-4357 or Ask.Genetics@LifeLabs.com
The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) Isoform, Plasma is currently an uninsured test and only available in Ontario. The cost of the test is $175.
Payment can be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit are accepted.
Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.
This test assesses beta-amyloid 42/40 (Aβ42/40) ratio via plasma. This ratio measures levels of 2 beta-amyloid peptides, where certain ratio results may suggest a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.11 Blood-based amyloid testing provides an accessible, affordable tool as part of Alzheimer’s disease risk assessment and ongoing monitoring, aiding in evaluation of further comprehensive testing needs.
*Please note this test is currently only available in Ontario.
Assess risk of having Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia
Beta-Amyloid 42/40 Ratio, Plasma – This LC-MS/MS assay measures beta-amyloid 40 (Aβ40) as well as Aβ42 in plasma, rather than Aβ42 alone. This permits the normalization of beta amyloid levels circulating in plasma in different patients. Using the ratio of beta-amyloid 42/beta-amyloid 40, improves sensitivity and specificity for detecting Alzheimer’s disease.
Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)
To order the Beta-Amyloid 42/40 Ratio, Plasma please download the Alzheimer’s custom requisition form or write the name of the test in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario Ministry of Health requisition.
Please note the following:
Results are provided to the ordering healthcare provider within 12 business days of sample collection. Results are not shared on MyCareCompass (MCC) and are only sent to the ordering healthcare provider (HCP). Results can only be shared with the patient through consultation with their HCP.
The Beta-Amyloid 42/40 Ratio, Plasma is currently an uninsured test and only available in Ontario. The cost of the test is $300.
Payment can be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit are accepted.
Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.
This test is used to detect phosphorylated tau (p-tau181) proteins, one of the hallmark biomarkers involved in the diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s disease. p-tau181 concentrations increase over time within plasma as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.12,13
Routine monitoring of p-tau181 levels via plasma is ideal to support care pathways as it is less invasive, less expensive, and more practical than other methods. Combined plasma p-tau and Aβ42/40 biomarker testing has been shown to help identify patients at risk of experiencing faster cognitive decline14 and which patients can benefit from further diagnostic testing.
*Please note this test is currently only available in Ontario.
Assess for Alzheimer’s disease (AD)–associated tau pathology in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
Phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), Plasma – p-tau181 is a diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that is useful in identifying patients with underlying AD tau pathology. It can predict the cognitive decline in AD/MCI patients and correlates with amyloid and tau PET results.
Electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA)
To order the Phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), Plasma please download the Alzheimer’s custom requisition form or write the name of the test in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario Ministry of Health requisition.
Please note the following:
Results are provided within 10 business days of sample collection. Results are not shared on MyCareCompass (MCC) and are only sent to the ordering healthcare provider (HCP). Results can only be shared with the patient through consultation with their HCP.
The Phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), Plasma is currently an uninsured test and only available in Ontario. The cost of the test is $300.
Payment can be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit are accepted.
Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.
This is a blood-based test to assess neuronal damage from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) like that caused by concussions.
NfL is a neuron-specific protein routinely released into the extracellular space of the brain. Serum NfL levels rise above baseline in response to neuronal injury and neurodegeneration.
*Please note this test is currently only available in Ontario.
Assess neuronal damage from neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injuries like those caused by concussions.
Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL), Plasma – NfL is an intermediate filament protein found specifically in the neuronal cytoskeleton. It can be released into the extracellular space through axonal degradation, and it has been shown that varying NfL levels are an indicator of neuroaxonal damage, irrespective of the cause, and can therefore be associated with a variety of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease, as well as acute situations such as traumatic brain injury and others. NfL is thus considered a promising biomarker for disease activity, progression, prognosis, and monitoring effectiveness of therapies. As NfL can be measured in blood, it holds great potential for routine clinical use.
Immunoassay (IA)
To order the Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL), Plasma please download the Alzheimer’s custom requisition form or write the name of the test in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario Ministry of Health requisition.
Please note the following:
Results are provided within 9 business days of sample collection. Results are not shared on MyCareCompass (MCC) and are only sent to the ordering healthcare provider (HCP). Results can only be shared with the patient through consultation with their HCP.
The Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL), Plasma is currently an uninsured test and only available in Ontario. The cost of the test is $350.
Payment can be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit are accepted.
Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.
This panel combines Aβ 42/40 and p-tau217 plasma levels to help establish the likelihood of amyloid pathology consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, evaluated at 91% sensitivity and 91% specificity—meeting accepted performance standards for blood-based biomarker tests.15,16
The biomarker values are combined into a single analytical interpretation, which has been shown to significantly improve predictive performance and accuracy for detecting amyloid positivity corresponding to the findings of an amyloid PET scan and establishing a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
*Please note this test is currently only available in Ontario.
Assess beta-amyloid (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) to establish the likelihood of amyloid pathology consistent with Alzheimer’s disease in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
ABeta 42/40 and p-tau217 Evaluation, Plasma – Intended use is for Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Independent measurement and interpretation of plasma amyloid ratios (Aβ 42/40) and phosphorylated tau levels (p-tau181 and p-tau217) provide clinically valuable insight into patient risk for development of Alzheimer’s disease. However, by combining core AD pathological markers for a single analytical interpretation have been shown to significantly improve predictive performance and accuracy for detecting amyloid positivity and confirming a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The ABeta 42/40 and p-tau217 Evaluation, Plasma evaluates a patient’s plasma Aβ 42/40 ratios and p-tau217 levels reporting out the likelihood that a symptomatic patient suspected of AD has a High, Indeterminant, or Low likelihood of amyloid pathology consistent with AD. This panel meets established performance criteria for confirming a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease utilizing plasma biomarkers.
To order the ABeta 42/40 and p-tau217 Evaluation, Plasma please download the Alzheimer’s custom requisition form or write the name of the test in the ‘Other Tests’ section of the standard Ontario Ministry of Health requisition.
Please note the following:
Results are provided within 10 business days of sample collection. Results are not shared on MyCareCompass (MCC) and are only sent to the ordering healthcare provider (HCP). Results can only be shared with the patient through consultation with their HCP.
The ABeta 42/40 and p-tau217 Evaluation, Plasma is currently an uninsured test panel and only available in Ontario. The cost of the test is $600.
Payment can be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit are accepted.
Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.
2. Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (accessed on Mar 20, 2025).
3. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/5374-alzheimers-awareness-month (accessed on Mar 20, 2025).
4. Thijssen EH, Joie RL, Strom A, et al. Plasma phosphorylated tau 217 and phosphorylated tau 181 as biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a retrospective diagnostic performance study. Lancet Neurol. 2021;20(9):739-752. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(21)00214-3
5. Palmqvist S, Janelidze S, Quiroz YT, et al. Discriminative accuracy of plasma phospho-tau217 for Alzheimer disease vs other neurodegenerative disorders. JAMA. 2020;324(8):772-781. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.12134
6. Ashton NJ, Brum WS, Molfetta GD, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of a plasma phosphorylated tau 217 immunoassay for Alzheimer disease pathology. JAMA Neurol. 2024;81(3):255-263. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.5319
7. Mielke MM, Dage JL, Frank RD, et al. Performance of plasma phosphorylated tau 181 and 217 in the community. Nat Med. 2022;28(7):1398-1405. doi:10.1038/s41591-022-01822-2
8. Therriault J, Ashton NJ, Pola I, et al. Comparison of two plasma p-tau217 assays to detect and monitor Alzheimer’s pathology. eBioMedicine. 2024;102:105046. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105046
9. Nishimura M, Satoh M, Nishimura S, et al. Human apolipoprotein E resequencing by proteomic analysis and its application to serotyping. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(1):e85356. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085356
10. Kirmess KM, Meyer MR, Holubasch MS, et al. The PrecivityAD™ test: accurate and reliable LC-MS/MS assays for quantifying plasma amyloid beta 40 and 42 and apolipoprotein E proteotype for the assessment of brain amyloidosis. Clin Chim Acta. 2021;519:267-275. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2021.05.011
11. Nakamura A, Kaneko N, Villemagne V, et al. High performance plasma amyloid-B biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. Nature. 2018;554(7691):249-254. doi:10.1038/nature25456
12. Lantero Rodriguez J, Karikari TK, Suárez-Calvet M, et al. Plasma p-tau181 accurately predicts Alzheimer’s disease pathology at least 8 years prior to postmortem and improves the clinical characterisation of cognitive decline. Acta Neuropathol. 2020;140(3):267-278. doi:10.1007/s00401-020-02195-x
13. Brickman AM, Manly JJ, Honig LS, et al. Plasma p-tau181, p-tau217, and other blood-based Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in a multi-ethnic, community study. Alzheimers Dement. 2021;17(8):1353-1364. doi:10.1002/alz.12301
14. Meyer PF, Ashton NJ, Karikari TK, et al. Plasma p-tau231, p-tau181, PET biomarkers, and cognitive change in older adults. Ann Neurol. 2022;91(4):548-560. doi:10.1002/ana.26308
15. Weber DM, Stroh MA, Taylor SW, et al. Development and clinical validation of blood-based multibiomarker models for the evaluation of brain amyloid pathology. medRxiv 2025;02.27. doi:10.1101/2025.02.27.25322892
16. Schindler SE, Galasko D, Pereira AC, et al. Acceptable performance of blood biomarker tests of amyloid pathology — Recommendations from the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Rev Neurol. 2024;20(7):426-439. doi:10.1038/s41582-024-00977-5
For rush results (NAAT within 12 hours and PCR within 24 hours)
6084 Russ Baker Way
Richmond near Airport
6084 Russ Baker Way
Richmond near Airport
Pre-Departure testing now available from the comfort of your home with MyVisit (Currently Greater Toronto Area only)
MyVisit Pre-departure testing offers:
The MyVisit fee is $80 per person.
Pre-Departure testing
Book your appointment online here. If your flight is within the next five days and you have received your FlyClear requisition, please contact a MyVisit coordinator 1-416-993-9579 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm EST).
Return to collection guide
