What's this test for?

This test is ideal if you're concerned about brain health, experiencing memory issues, or have a family history of neurological conditions like Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis. It measures neurofilament light chain levels in your blood, which indicates nerve cell damage or degeneration. Many people use this test to catch early signs of neurological problems or to monitor disease progression if they've already been diagnosed.

What happens after I get my results?

You'll receive detailed doctor notes in simple language explaining what your neurofilament levels mean for your brain health and nerve function. These notes include personalized recommendations like lifestyle changes to support brain health, when to follow up with a neurologist, and whether additional testing may be helpful. You'll also get the standard lab report and can track your levels over time using our trends feature, which is especially valuable for monitoring progression or improvement.

What's included in this test?

This test measures neurofilament light chain (NfL), a protein released when nerve cells are damaged or dying. Elevated NfL levels can indicate active neurological damage from conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, or other neurodegenerative disorders. This single biomarker provides valuable insight into overall brain health and the rate of nerve cell damage happening in your body.

How should I prepare for this test?

You should stop taking biotin supplements at least 72 hours before your blood draw. Biotin can interfere with the test results and cause inaccurate readings. Other than avoiding biotin, no special fasting or preparation is required for this test.

Who should consider getting this test?

This test is valuable for people with unexplained neurological symptoms like memory problems, balance issues, or numbness. It's also helpful for those with a family history of Alzheimer's, MS, or other brain diseases, and for monitoring disease progression in people already diagnosed with neurological conditions. Athletes with a history of concussions may also benefit from checking their brain health.

What symptoms indicate I may need this test?

Consider this test if you're experiencing memory loss, confusion, difficulty concentrating, balance problems, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, or changes in coordination. It's also relevant if you've had repeated head injuries, notice your thinking is getting slower, or have unexplained vision problems. These symptoms could indicate nerve damage that this test can help identify.

How can I naturally support my brain and nerve health?

Supporting brain health involves regular aerobic exercise, which increases blood flow to the brain and promotes nerve cell health. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, berries, leafy greens, and nuts provides essential nutrients for brain function. Prioritizing quality sleep, managing stress through meditation or mindfulness, staying mentally active with puzzles and learning, and maintaining social connections all help protect against neurological decline.

What is neurofilament light chain and why does it matter?

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a structural protein found inside nerve cells that acts like scaffolding to maintain cell shape. When nerve cells are damaged or dying, NfL is released into the bloodstream. Measuring NfL levels helps doctors detect active nerve damage early, even before symptoms become severe, making it a valuable marker for monitoring brain health and neurological disease activity.

What does high neurofilament light chain mean?

Elevated NfL levels indicate active nerve cell damage or degeneration in your brain or nervous system. This could suggest conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, or other neurodegenerative disorders. Higher levels generally correlate with more active disease or faster progression, though levels also naturally increase slightly with normal aging.

How often should I retest my neurofilament levels?

If you're monitoring a diagnosed neurological condition, your doctor may recommend retesting every 6-12 months to track disease progression or response to treatment. For baseline health monitoring in people with risk factors, annual testing may be appropriate. If your initial results are elevated, your doctor will likely want to retest sooner, possibly in 3-6 months, to establish a trend and determine if levels are stable, increasing, or decreasing.

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.Long story short: In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want. If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test. Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout. If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want. When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system. Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way. You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy! If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

How do I know which test to get?

In the test options, find the test you want. If you’re not sure which test to get, we can lend a hand in finding the right option. Just text or call us at 754-799-7833, email us at support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you. We've got your back and reply quickly.

When will my lab results be available?

Most test results will be available within 1–3 business days. Once they're ready, we'll send an email and text message to let you know. After your blood draw, just hang tight and don't worry – we'll keep you updated and in the loop! If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you.

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Absolutely! We totally understand that errors can happen. No worries, we're here to help you. Just reach out to us via text at 754-799-7833 or shoot us an email at support@privatemdlabs.com. Remember to include your order number and let us know the correct information you’d like to update. Our awesome team will jump right in and make sure everything is sorted out and accurate for you. There are no changes necessary if your address is wrong on the requisition though. We don’t mail anything out. Our lab requires an address to be listed to generate an order.

Do you accept health insurance?

Only HSA & FSA is accepted. Our services are strictly self-pay and cannot be submitted to your health insurance provider except for Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts. This policy applies to all insurance companies, including federal health insurance programs like Medicare. If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.

Can I cancel my order?

Yes. We get it – sometimes your needs change. As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order. If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com. You can read more about our cancellation policy here.

How can I find a lab location near me?

During the ordering process, you’ll be able to select a specific lab near you, with no strings attached! You can switch it up later easily and visit any of our authorized locations as long as it’s the same lab company you selected your test for (Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp). Before you proceed with your order, feel free to browse through all our lab locations here. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that there's a lab nearby your home, office or your favorite gym. If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

Brain Health Test - Memory & Nerve Function Check

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.

Long story short:

In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want.
If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test.
Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout.
If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want.
When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system.
Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way.
You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy!

754-799-7833

[email protected]

Blood Test for Brain Health and Memory Issues

Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL), Plasma

90 day happiness guarantee

Prescription & fees included

Easy to understand results

Fast & convenient

90 day happiness guarantee

Prescription & fees included

Easy to understand results

Fast & convenient

What's this test for?

How should I prepare for this test?

What's included in this test?

Here’s why 1,000,000+ customers chose us for affordable hassle-free private blood testing.

Blood Test for Brain Health and Memory Issues

90 day happiness guarantee

Prescription & fees included

Easy to understand results

Fast & convenient

1,000,000+ blood tests later, here's what our customers say