High Agreement Across Laboratories Between Different Alpha-Synuclein Seed Amplification Protocols

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Stefan Bräuer - , Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Maximilian Weber - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Christian Deuschle - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Kühlwein Julia - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm University (Author)
  • Luis Concha-Marambio - , Amprion Inc. (Author)
  • Alexander M. Bernhardt - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Vaibhavi Kadam - , University of Tübingen, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • David Mengel - , University of Tübingen, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Wolfgang P. Ruf - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm University (Author)
  • Jan Kassubek - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm University (Author)
  • Iñaki Schniewind - , Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Sandra Kuhs - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Marcello Rossi - , Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna (Author)
  • Piero Parchi - , Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, University of Bologna (Author)
  • Johannes Levin - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) (Author)
  • Karin M. Danzer - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm University (Author)
  • Matthis Synofzik - , University of Tübingen, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Kathrin Brockmann - , University of Tübingen, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Björn H. Falkenburger - , Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)

Abstract

Background: Seed amplification assays (SAA) detect alpha-synuclein (aSYN) pathology in patient biomatrices such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—potentially even before clinical manifestations. As CSF-based SAA are approaching broader use in clinical trials and research, ensuring that different laboratories obtain the same results becomes increasingly important. Methods: In this cross-laboratory, cross-aSYN-recombinant substrate and cross-protocol round-robin test, we compared SAA results from a common set of 38 CSF samples measured independently in four research laboratories of the German Center for Neurodegenerative diseases. Three laboratories (A–C) used an assay protocol adapted from Parchi's group at ISNB (Bologna, Italy); laboratory D used an assay protocol adapted from Amprion Inc. Two different manufacturers of aSYN protein were used as substrates for the SAA reaction. Results: Qualitative results were identical in at least three of the four laboratories for 37 out of 38 samples (20 positive, 17 negative). Fleiss Kappa for all four laboratories was 0.751 (z = 12, p < 0.001). For each laboratory, agreement with laboratory A was > 92%. For the number of positive replicates, Fleiss Kappa was 0.45 for a score of zero positive replicates and 0.42 for a score of four positive replicates. Conclusions: The qualitative SAA results showed a high level of agreement across research laboratories, aSYN monomers, and assay protocols. Small differences between laboratories were systematic, consistent with the notion that SAA reports biologically relevant properties. These results also underline that round-robin tests can be helpful in assessing and ensuring SAA quality across laboratories.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70165
JournalEuropean journal of neurology
Volume32
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 40237217
ORCID /0000-0002-2387-526X/work/203813173

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • alpha-synuclein, method validation, proficiency testing, ring trial, RT-QuIC