LinusBio
June 05, 2025
The new, groundbreaking test uses just a strand of hair and can help healthcare providers rule out autism as early as one month of age
LinusBio, a leader in precision exposome medicine, announced today that ClearStrand-ASD™, its biochemical autism screening test, is now available to patients and providers in California, making it available across 48 states in the US. This expansion marks a significant step in LinusBio’s mission to enable earlier identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and support early intervention.
ClearStrand-ASD leverages proprietary robotics and lasers to analyze a strand of hair to identify biological and molecular patterns indicative of ASD. The result is an objective, noninvasive screening tool that supports clinical decision-making during a child’s most critical window of development.
“ClearStrand-ASD was developed to address one of the greatest challenges families face when concerned about autism: the uncertainty and waiting. Every parent deserves answers, and they deserve them as early as possible. We know that early detection and timely intervention can profoundly shape a child's future. Whether ClearStrand-ASD helps rule out autism or prompts earlier action, what we’re ultimately giving families is something invaluable — time. Time to plan, to act, and to hope. We’re deeply honored to offer this breakthrough to families and providers in California,” said Dr. Manish Arora, Founder and CEO of LinusBio. “Our goal is to empower clinicians with more objective, personalized insights so they can better support the children and families who need it most.”
"Every parent deserves answers, and they deserve them as early as possible."
Dr. Manish Arora
Founder and CEO of LinusBio
In a state as diverse as California, where children’s backgrounds, resources, and care pathways can vary widely, early intervention can be the difference between delayed development and long-term success. Yet, many families face long waitlists or lack of access to diagnostic services altogether.
Dr. Tanya Altmann, a nationally recognized pediatrician and author, has used ClearStrand-ASD at her Calabasas practice as part of a more comprehensive approach to developmental care. “In pediatrics, time matters. The earlier we can identify potential concerns, the sooner we can intervene, and early intervention can make a lifelong difference,” said Dr. Altmann. “ClearStrand-ASD gives me an additional layer of insight, especially when families have concerns but don’t yet have a diagnosis. Its high predictive value in ruling out autism is an important factor when discussing next steps with parents, and it can be incredibly helpful in prioritizing which children need further evaluation. It’s a powerful tool to help guide next steps in care and give parents and clinicians an early indicator they can act on.”
LinusBio currently enables caregivers to request the test from home through an independent telehealth provider. With this expansion, the company is also partnering with pediatric practices, developmental specialists, and early intervention networks across California to broaden access to the test in clinical and community settings.
About ClearStrand-ASD
ClearStrand-ASD is a biochemical test intended to help health care providers rule out autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children 1 to 48 months. The test analyzes a strand of hair to map the dynamic patterns of an individual’s unique biological responses at a molecular level to environmental exposures over time and uses an algorithm to assess the likelihood of autism. It is not a genetic test and must be ordered by a licensed health care provider (Rx only). ClearStrand-ASD is performed at LinusBio's CLIA-certified laboratory (CLIA #31d2307499). For more information visit: https://www.clearstrandasd.com.