Patients with multiple sclerosis in New Brunswick will soon get quicker answers about their disease.

Horizon Health Network, Vitalité Health Network and Roche Canada are partnering to bring biomarker blood testing to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton.

The test, known as neurofilament light chain, measures proteins in the blood that signal disease activity in the nervous system.

“This partnership reflects everything we strive for in health care innovation – bringing the right care, to the right patients, at the right time,” Margaret Melanson, president and CEO of Horizon Health Network, said in a release.

Health Minister John Dornan said the program will help patients get support sooner while easing pressure on the health system.

About 2,000 New Brunswickers live with MS, one of the highest rates in the world.

Testing has been pretty restricted so far, with samples having to be sent outside the province, which means it takes weeks to get the results back.

Officials say results will now be returned in days, at a lower cost, and available in both official languages.

Dr. France Desrosiers, president and CEO of Vitalité Health Network, said earlier testing will allow clinicians to adjust treatments more quickly and improve outcomes.

Roche Diagnostics Canada president Matheus Vieira added that the partnership shows how collaboration can improve patient care while reducing system backlogs.

The program will begin with a validation phase in the coming weeks, with full implementation expected in 2026.

ResearchNB helped establish the collaboration, which may also pave the way for biomarker testing for other neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.