BBMRI.at biobank-supported research featured on ORF TV: Enabling early multiple sclerosis diagnosis

What can blood tests reveal?

Around 90,000 laboratory analyses are performed at the Clinical Institute at AKH Vienna every day.  Approximately 450 different parameters can be examined to detect and monitor disease. Blood glucose, electrolytes, liver and kidney values provide insight into metabolic processes and organ function, while tumour markers may indicate certain cancers. Hormones and enzymes can reveal endocrine disorders or tissue damage, and immune markers and antibodies help identify infections and autoimmune diseases. In addition, genetic material can be analysed from blood samples, and predictive tests can assess the risk of developing specific diseases.

Blood test for early detection of multiple sclerosis

In the ORF report broadcasted 10 January 2026,  Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl, Head of the Centre for Virology at BBMRI.at partner MedUni Wien, explains: “It has become shown that the Epstein–Barr virus is closely linked to multiple sclerosis (MS).” The researchers from Vienna were able to identify which antibodies are relevant, how they can be measured, and which antibody levels indicate an increased risk of developing MS. Based on these findings, the research team developed a diagnostic blood test that measures antibody levels to support early MS risk assessment. Further studies are still required before the test can be introduced into routine clinical diagnostics.

Biobanks as a prerequisite for medical progress

Large-scale validation studies depend on access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. With informed consent from donors, such material is stored in biobanks and made available for research under strict regulatory and ethical frameworks. The MedUni Vienna Biobank currently holds around five million samples, providing a crucial resource for biomedical and translational research.

BBMRI.at – the Austrian biobanking research infrastructure

In Austria, several biobanks have joined forces within BBMRI.at to further develop biobanking and to support researchers from academia and industry with access to samples, data, and expertise in biobanking, sample management, and pre-analytical quality. How biobanks work and how they support research is illustrated in an animated video “Professional biobanks can make your life easier” co-produced by the BBMRI-ERIC nodes BBMRI.at, GBN, and SBP. Excerpts from this video are shown in the ORF TV report.