Could bundled digital and IVD testing speed Alzheimer’s trial referrals?

Likely yes—but the evidence is still emerging. Pairing digital cognitive checks with blood-based in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests could make it easier to identify and prioritize people who may qualify for Alzheimer’s trials, before sending them for more resource-intensive clinic assessments.

A concrete example is ADNI4’s remote cohort:
it combines web-based cognitive assessments with blood biomarkers, then refers people to clinics based on the results of both. This is a referral pathway in a research protocol, not yet proof that bundling has shortened recruitment times.

The Global Alzheimer’s Platform’s Bio-Hermes program is evaluating blood and digital biomarkers together, with the stated goal of finding practical screening methods that could speed trial recruitment and reduce screen failures. Its initial study compared the tests with standard assessments and amyloid PET.

Recent USC Clinical Trial Recruitment Lab initiatives are also testing digitally supported recruitment, including EHR-based identification and referral, remote cognitive prescreening, and AI-supported workflows. These efforts address the handoff from screening to trial referral, though they do not establish the impact of a combined digital-plus-IVD package on enrollment speed.

****Bottom line:**
** Bundling may accelerate prescreening and referral by combining a cognitive signal with biological evidence earlier in the process. Whether it actually increases referrals, shortens time to enrollment, or reduces costs needs prospective comparison with usual referral pathways. It will also depend on test accuracy, access to follow-up confirmation, clinician workflow, privacy, and equitable access.