What is BrainScan?
BrainScan is a cutting edge brain-health blood panel that helps you detect early signs of neuronal issues and Alzheimer’s-related pathology years before symptoms appear. It combines three high-sensitivity tests from Neurocode:
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p‑Tau 217 – tracks Alzheimer’s-specific tau pathology
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Neurofilament light (NfL) – indicates neuronal damage
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Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) – highlights inflammation and repair in the brain
If you are 30 years or older, especially with risk factors such as family history of dementia, ApoE4 gene, memory loss, concussion, head trauma, social isolation, physical inactivity, depression, sleep apnea, smoking, excessive alcohol use, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, untreated vision or hearing loss, unhealthy diet, or poor sleep, you may want to consider this test.
This brain health blood test measures key biomarkers: p-Tau 217 (an early indicator of Alzheimer’s-related changes), NfL (which detects ongoing damage to brain cells from trauma or disease), and GFAP (a marker of brain inflammation and repair). Together, these biomarkers help identify early signs of neurodegeneration, track disease progression, and guide personalized steps to protect and improve brain health.
Plasma pTau-217 test result ≤0.34ng/L is a negative result and is consistent with a negative amyloid PET scan. A negative result indicates a low likelihood that a patient's cognitive impairment is due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) with 95% negative predictive value. A test results between 0.34 and 0.63ng/L is considered intermediate. An intermediate result does not establish a diagnosis of AD or other cognitive disorder and has increased uncertainty in regard to amyloid positivity. A test result ≥0.63ng/L is positive and is consistent with a positive PET scan with 95% predictive value. A positive result does not independently establish a diagnosis; results should be interpreted in the context of other clinical signs and symptoms of AD, and a specialist consulted.
Once your order is processed you will be emailed a special form to take to your closest blood collection centre (you must go to one of the labs on this list):
- Laverty
- QML
- Abbott Pathology
- Dorevitch Pathology
- TML Pathology
- WDP (Western Diagnostic Pathology)
Each of the above labs accepts the same form. They will collect your blood, process your sample, and send it to our offices in Sydney where we ship it to a specialist testing lab in the USA. Once testing is complete your results and detailed report will be emailed to you. The blood test results report will be ready 10 to 14 days after the sample arrives in the USA laboratory.
Try to have the blood drawn on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for best results and faster shipping times. Fasting is not required, but it is preferred to do the test in the morning for consistency. There is no need to stop any supplements prior unless you wish to measure baseline levels without those supplements. In this case, stop taking supplements for 1 month prior to the blood draw.
After your order is placed, please allow 1–2 business days for your test to be arranged with the pathology lab and to receive a downloadable form via email that will authorise your blood collection. If you have not received your form within this time frame, please email us.
By ordering you acknowledge the BrainScan blood test is intended for research, educational, and informational use only.
All test samples must be received within 3 months of ordering or additional fees may apply.