FAQs
Get StartedWhat is the NQ Autism test?
The test is an early detection test that, as detailed in substantial clinical data and several published papers, identifies a way to diagnose autism by monitoring calcium signaling in skin cells. Clinical evaluation and diagnostic testing is needed to confirm autism.
How can I order the NQ Autism test?
The test is available by prescription only. You can request a test through your healthcare provider or on our website through an independent telemedicine provider. Download our Patient + Provider Discussion Guide to help start the conversation with your provider.
How does the NQ test look for Autism?
The calcium signaling in the sampled skin fibroblasts are compared to calcium signaling in individuals testing by research-grade ADOS testing scored in the neurotypical or the ASD range If an autism signal is detected, results from the test predict a high ASD risk and help your healthcare provider determine next steps to minimize the development of symptoms.
Who can take the NQ Autism detection test?
The NQ Autism early detection test is recommended for patients of any age.
The NQ Autism early detection test is intended to be used in addition to, and not replace, other Autism screening tests your healthcare provider recommends.
Use of the NQ Autism early detection test is not recommended in individuals who are pregnant or undergoing active autism treatment.
My child is not at risk for Autism nor do I have a family history, is the early Autism detection test really for us?
The risk of Autism is much greater if there is a family history. For families with a prior affected child, the risk of Autism is twenty times greater than that of the rest of the population.
Does the NQ Autism early detection indicate what type of Autism you have?
While the early Autism detection test is very accurate in detecting the inborn risk of Autism, it does not specifically identify the specific ASD condition. The Autism detection test test does not detect a signal for all types of Autism and not all Autism can be detected in the skin.
How accurate is the early Autism detection test?
While the early Autism detection test is very accurate in detecting the inborn risk of Autism, it does not specifically identify the specific ASD condition. The Autism detection test test does not detect a signal for all types of Autism and not all Autism can be detected in the skin.
Is NQ Autism early detection test a genetic risk assessment test that predicts your future risk for Autism?
No, the NQ Autism early detection test is not a genetic risk assessment. A genetic risk assessment is a one time only measurement that attempts to assess your future risk of developing Autism based upon reading the sequence of your life-long genome and looking for any of the many mutations that have been seen in ASD, however, since these variants are common in the population, they currently do not provide sufficient data to predict ASD. The NQ Autism early detection test looks for an inborn signaling abnormality associated with research-grade ADOS test results. Genetic tests look at DNA to assess lifelong risk for Autism but while they reliably detect mutations, the tiny impact of each variant and the frequency of such alleles in neurotypical individuals means they cannot make a simple prediction if Autism will be manifest.
Where is the early Autism detection test currently available?
The test is only available in the US at this time. You can request a test through your healthcare provider or on our website through an independent telemedicine provider.
Is the early Autism detection test available outside the US?
No, the early Autism detection test is only commercially available in the US.
Who can order the early Autism detection test?
The early Autism detection test is available by prescription only from your healthcare provider or on our website through an independent telemedicine provider.
What if my healthcare provider does not know about the NQ Autism early detection test?
We would be happy to share information about the NQ Autism early detection test with your healthcare provider. Please contact Customer Service by filling out a support request or calling AAA−BBB−CCCC. You can also download our Patient + Provider Discussion Guide to share with your provider directly.
There is a crisis across the U.S. with wait lists for families needing an autism evaluation for a possible diagnosis. What is NeuroQure doing in this area?
Current diagnostics are either delivered too late or not effective. NeuroQure is addressing this crisis by introducing the first-ever biological test for autism that can be performed at birth, significantly expediting the time to an accurate diagnosis. Traditional methods like ADOS are time-intensive and expensive and cannot be performed before 18 to 24 months after birth. Genomic sequencing tests can’t be meaningfully interpreted for most cases. Our test helps overcome these challenges.
What is NeuroQure doing to reduce the average age of diagnosis from age 5?
NeuroQure is bringing the first biological diagnostic to market, allowing parents to determine whether their child, from birth, will be diagnosed with autism by ADOS using a discarded foreskin or a tiny skin biopsy sample. This scientific break-through enables early intervention, ensuring families can get the help they need sooner and reducing unnecessary waiting periods for therapeutic and medical interventions.
If the foreskin is not available, what does a tiny skin biopsy look like?
A skin biopsy is a quick and relatively painless procedure that involves a simple device with a tip like the opening tip of a ballpoint pen that removes a small circle of skin. Practitioners can perform it in minutes and, if requested, local anesthesia may be applied to minimize any discomfort and it is so small that it easily heals without a suture.
How do you think this break-through diagnostic test could change the lives of people affected by Autsim world-wide?
Early intervention is key, and studies have shown significant behavior and IQ improvements when treatment begins early. Studies have shown that children diagnosed at the earliest possible 2 yrs age compared to those diagnosed at the typical average age of 5 yrs, IQ can improve by 17 points! This could make the difference of a child attending main stream education rather than special education.
How does NeuroQure diagnose Autism from a skin sample?
After over 8 years of research and over $20M in funding, we discovered a biological marker in skin fibroblast cells that accurately identifies the same process altered in signal processing in the ASD brain. This marker, related to calcium signaling, plays a critical role in neurotransmitter release, GI and immune cell function and mitochondrial energy production. Our ASD diagnostic has shown accuracy levels (Receiver operator curve, area under the curve is 85%) similar to the ADOS test. For detail go to the NQ link on the site.
Are there some on the Autism spectrum where the diagnosis won’t be picked up with NeuroQure’s diagnostic test?
Our test has proved effective across the full spectrum of ASD. Its interpretation is simple and chosen to be conservatively interpreted to avoid false positive calls of ASD at the expense of leaving unrecognized a few with ASD. In this manner it still recognizes over 75% of those at high risk of testing positive for ASD by ADOS testing at age 2yrs.
Will NeuroQure help diagnose other Neurodevelopmental conditions?
Yes, we are also working to offer more sophisticated AI-guided diagnostics in the future by combining the NQ functional assay with exome or genome analysis.
Will this diagnostic test be covered by insurance? Can parents sign up to receive an update on the insurance reimbursement?
No, our diagnostic test will not initially be covered by insurance. We will launch it on a discounted cash pay basis while working on insurance coverage. Parents can sign up to receive updates on the status of insurance reimbursement on our website at www.neuroqure.com.