Codex Genetics & C2N Diagnostics Bring Alzheimer’s Blood Test to Hong Kong | PrecivityAD2™ Now Available

Hong Kong residents may soon have access to a new tool in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Codex Genetics, a precision diagnostics company based in Hong Kong, has partnered with C2N Diagnostics to bring the PrecivityAD2™ blood test to healthcare professionals across the region. This collaboration aims to improve early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, offering a less invasive alternative to existing methods.

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and the Require for Early Detection

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It’s the most common cause of dementia, a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. As populations age, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s is increasing, posing a significant public health challenge. In Hong Kong, approximately 20% of community-dwelling older adults experience mild neurocognitive impairment, and 7.4% are affected by major neurocognitive disorders (dementia), with these figures rising sharply with age. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for several reasons. It allows individuals and their families to plan for the future, access available support services, and potentially participate in clinical trials evaluating new treatments. Emerging therapies are most effective when initiated in the early stages of the disease.

How the PrecivityAD2™ Test Works

Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease often involves cognitive assessments, brain imaging (like PET scans), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. These methods can be expensive, time-consuming, and, in the case of lumbar punctures to obtain CSF, potentially uncomfortable for patients. The PrecivityAD2™ test offers a different approach. It’s a blood-based test designed to detect the presence of brain amyloid pathology, a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid plaques, abnormal clumps of protein, accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s and are thought to play a critical role in the disease process.

The test utilizes high-resolution mass spectrometry to measure the ratio of amyloid beta (Aβ42/40) in the plasma, as well as the percentage of phosphorylated tau at threonine-217 (%p-tau217). These measurements are then combined using a proprietary algorithm to generate a clear Positive or Negative result, indicating the likelihood of amyloid plaque presence. This approach aims to provide a convenient and accessible way to identify individuals who may benefit from further diagnostic evaluation.

Clinical Validation and Accuracy

The PrecivityAD2™ test has undergone rigorous clinical validation. Studies have demonstrated strong performance, including 91% accuracy, 90% sensitivity, and 92% specificity when compared to amyloid PET imaging. Sensitivity refers to the test’s ability to correctly identify individuals *with* amyloid pathology, while specificity refers to its ability to correctly identify individuals *without* it. These results align with recommendations from the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association Clinical Practice Guidelines for confirmatory blood biomarker tests, which suggest a target accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of at least 90%.

A large clinical study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2024 further demonstrated the test’s ability to improve diagnostic accuracy in primary care settings. The study found an accuracy of over 90% at a single cutoff point compared to both CSF analysis and amyloid PET analysis. This is particularly significant, as primary care physicians are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing cognitive concerns.

Who is Eligible for the PrecivityAD2™ Test?

The PrecivityAD2™ test is intended for individuals aged 50 years and older who are experiencing signs or symptoms of mild cognitive impairment or dementia and are undergoing evaluation for Alzheimer’s disease or other causes of cognitive decline. C2N Diagnostics initially introduced the test for patients 60 years and older, but has since expanded the age range to 50 and older based on additional validation data. This expansion addresses the increasing recognition that Alzheimer’s disease can sometimes present at an earlier age.

Expanding Access and Reducing Diagnostic Barriers

Codex Genetics’ partnership with C2N Diagnostics aims to address the significant number of Alzheimer’s cases that move undiagnosed, particularly in developing countries where access to advanced diagnostic tools may be limited. Alzheimer’s Disease International reports that 75% of all dementia cases globally are undiagnosed, rising to 90% in developing countries. The PrecivityAD2™ test offers a potentially more accessible and less invasive alternative to traditional diagnostic methods, which could support to improve early detection rates.

What’s Next for Alzheimer’s Diagnostics and Care

The introduction of the PrecivityAD2™ test in Hong Kong represents a step forward in the effort to improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care. However, it’s important to remember that this test is just one piece of the puzzle. A comprehensive evaluation, including cognitive assessments and a review of medical history, is still necessary to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Ongoing research is crucial to develop new and more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Codex Genetics and C2N Diagnostics are committed to continuing to innovate in the field of brain health diagnostics. They plan to monitor the performance of the PrecivityAD2™ test in real-world clinical settings and to explore opportunities to expand its availability to other regions.

To learn more about the PrecivityAD2™ test in Hong Kong, contact: WhatsApp: (+852) 9837 1345, Phone: (+852) 3008 2560, Email: [email protected]. Additional information is available at www.precivityad.com and www.codexgenetics.com.