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BURLINGTON, N.C. - Labcorp (NYSE:LH), a prominent healthcare diagnostics provider with a market capitalization of $23.5 billion, announced Thursday it will offer the Elecsys pTau181 test nationwide by early 2026, making the first FDA-cleared blood test for initial Alzheimer’s disease assessment available in primary care settings. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong financial health score and has demonstrated robust revenue growth of approximately 8% over the last twelve months.
The test, developed by Roche Diagnostics, measures phosphorylated Tau (pTau) 181 protein in plasma, a key biomarker for Alzheimer’s pathology. According to the press release, clinical results showed the test can rule out Alzheimer’s pathology with a 97.9% negative predictive value.
Intended for adults 55 and older with signs of cognitive decline, the test provides a less invasive alternative to traditional diagnostic methods such as cerebrospinal fluid testing and PET scans. A simple blood draw can be completed at a doctor’s office or any of Labcorp’s more than 2,200 patient service centers nationwide.
"Many patients presenting with cognitive symptoms don’t have Alzheimer’s disease, so helping clinicians rule it out can be just as critical as confirming it," said Dr. Brian Caveney, chief medical and scientific officer at Labcorp.
The announcement comes as approximately 7.2 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, a number expected to nearly double by 2050. Cognitive changes are often first identified during routine care visits, but traditional Alzheimer’s biomarker testing typically requires specialist referral and invasive procedures. Want deeper insights into Labcorp’s market position and growth potential? InvestingPro subscribers have access to 10+ exclusive ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis, including the company’s detailed Pro Research Report, which transforms complex Wall Street data into actionable intelligence.
This addition expands Labcorp’s portfolio of Alzheimer’s tests, which already includes a laboratory-developed test version of pTau181 offered since March 2023 and the FDA-cleared Lumipulse pTau-217/Beta Amyloid 42 Ratio for specialty care settings. The company’s strong market position is reflected in its stock performance, currently trading near its 52-week high of $289.19, with analysts maintaining positive earnings forecasts for the upcoming period.
Patients with negative test results should be investigated for other causes of cognitive decline, while those with positive results require further evaluation to determine if amyloid pathology is causing their cognitive impairment, according to the company’s statement.
In other recent news, Labcorp Holdings Inc. announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.72 per share, set to be paid on December 11, 2025, to shareholders on record as of November 26, 2025. The company has completed its acquisition of select oncology assets from BioReference Health, a subsidiary of OPKO Health, in a transaction worth up to $225 million, with $192.5 million paid at closing and the potential for an additional $32.5 million based on performance. Labcorp has also launched the Lumipulse pTau-217/Beta Amyloid 42 Ratio, the first FDA-cleared blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, offering a less invasive diagnostic alternative. In collaboration with Roche, Labcorp is implementing FDA-cleared digital pathology scanners to address a projected shortage of pathologists in the U.S. Jefferies has raised its price target for Labcorp to $300, maintaining a Buy rating, following the company’s quarterly results that included a 1% top-line beat. The results were bolstered by a 6% upside in the Base Business segment, with an improved book-to-bill ratio of 1.18.
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