MS can follow very different patterns of evolution and variable rates of disability accumulation. Thus, many scientists and practitioners believe that new biomarkers should be sought to aid in prognosis or to augment existing means of patient stratification (Barten et al, 2010, van der Walt et al., 2010).

 

The gMS^®Dx blood test is a breakthrough tool which was designed as a companion to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in order to expedite the diagnosis of RRMS in suspected MS cases with nonspecific MS symptoms and typical CIS patients. The gMS^®Dx test enables early treatment as required by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Guidelines, while replacing repeated MRI scans and avoidance of additional diagnostic office visits and tests.

 

The blood test is highly specific to rule-in RRMS patients at the first neurological event. Over 1,352 MS patients, healthy controls and patients with other neurological disorders that mimic MS were screened by the gMS^®Dx test. Findings show that when using the gMS^®Dx test once, at the first neurological presentation, it is able to identify RRMS patients with high specificity. As a companion tool to MRI, cut-off values were set at high specificity to yield mid-level sensitivity. Therefore, it is not recommended to replace baseline MRI scans, but to decrease the number of repeated MRI scans after baseline.