FOI release

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Case reference FOI2026/02387

Received 15 June 2026

Published 20 August 2026

Request

1. I would be grateful if you could send the most recent planning document(s) for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, whether these are from the Trust, Integrated Care Board (ICB), or the region. I am particularly interested in planning documents that cover lumbar punctures (CSF) and Blood Biomarker testing. Please provide - As per previous response August 2025, the Neurology service is not aware of such document.

Please provide

2. To what extent are there plans for service improvement of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease?

3. Are the plans for service improvement of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease related to:

4. Which of the following services does the Trust have in place in preparation for increased service delivery for Alzheimer's Disease?
Related to administration of lumbar punctures - please choose from below
Related to Blood Biomarker testing
Budget
People
Training
Clinic space / capacity
Governance arrangements

5. How many lumbar puncture procedures to test for Alzheimer's Disease were performed in the last three-month period for which data are available?

Number of procedures
Number of lumbar punctures

6. Please provide the number of BBM tests for Alzheimer's Disease conducted over the last three-months, regardless of whether they were carried out within your organisation or sent to an external pathology laboratory.

Number of tests TOTAL Number of tests NHS patients Number of tests Private Sector Number of Blood Biomarker tests

7. Which of the following biomarker tests were used to detect Alzheimer's Disease?

Yes / No

8. Please provide a list of the full names of other Trusts or other organisations, to which the Trust refers samples for pTau181 and pTau217 immunoassay testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Full name of Trust or organisation(s)

9. How many pTau181 immunoassay tests were conducted to test for Alzheimer's Disease in the last three-months?

Number of tests TOTAL Number of tests NHS patients Number of tests Private Sector:
Number of pTau181 tests:

10. Is pTau181 testing for Alzheimer's Disease linked to, or conducted in conjunction with, clinical trials?

11. How many pTau181 immunoassay tests were conducted for Alzheimer's Disease as part of a clinical trial?

12. How many pTau217 immunoassay tests were conducted to test for Alzheimer's Disease in the last three-months?

Number of tests TOTAL Number of tests NHS patients Number of tests Private Sector
Number of pTau217 tests

13. Is pTau217 testing for Alzheimer's Disease linked to, or conducted in conjunction with, clinical trials?

14. How many pTau217 immunoassay tests were conducted for Alzheimer's Disease as part of a clinical trial?

Response

Please provide

2. To what extent are there plans for service improvement of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease?

There is no plan

3. Are the plans for service improvement of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease related to:

No

4. Which of the following services does the Trust have in place in preparation for increased service delivery for Alzheimer's Disease?
Related to administration of lumbar punctures - please choose from below
Yes Related to Blood Biomarker testing
No Budget
Yes People
Yes Training
Yes Clinic space / capacity
Yes Governance arrangements

5. How many lumbar puncture procedures to test for Alzheimer's Disease were performed in the last three-month period for which data are available?

Number of procedures
Number of lumbar punctures

As per the previous response in August 2025, Matron investigated and unable to provide clear figures related to specific request - 'We can obtain the information regarding the waiting times for lumbar punctures (LP) and the number performed in the day unit (excluding those on the ward). However, the FOI request specifically pertains to Alzheimer's disease, and we do not have this data.'

A total of 39 tests in total from 38 patients; all NHS patients, none from the private sector

7. Which of the following biomarker tests were used to detect Alzheimer's Disease?

Yes / No
No pTau181 immunoassay tests
Yes pTau217 immunoassay tests

8. Please provide a list of the full names of other Trusts or other organisations, to which the Trust refers samples for pTau181 and pTau217 immunoassay testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Full name of Trust or organisation(s)
University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London

9. How many pTau181 immunoassay tests were conducted to test for Alzheimer's Disease in the last three-months?

Number of tests TOTAL Number of tests NHS patients Number of tests Private Sector: None
Number of pTau181 tests: None

10. Is pTau181 testing for Alzheimer's Disease linked to, or conducted in conjunction with, clinical trials?

No
pTau181 Testing associated with clinical trial activity

11. How many pTau181 immunoassay tests were conducted for Alzheimer's Disease as part of a clinical trial?

Number of pTau181 tests: None

12. How many pTau217 immunoassay tests were conducted to test for Alzheimer's Disease in the last three-months?

Number of tests TOTAL Number of tests NHS patients Number of tests Private Sector
Number of pTau217 tests

A total of 35 pTau217 tests from 35 patients over the previous 3 months - all NHS patients; none from the private sector

13. Is pTau217 testing for Alzheimer's Disease linked to, or conducted in conjunction with, clinical trials?

No
pTau217 Testing associated with clinical trial activity

14. How many pTau217 immunoassay tests were conducted for Alzheimer's Disease as part of a clinical trial?

Number of pTau217 tests: None

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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