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Autism Spectrum DisorderAPS001NCT07903675

Effectiveness of the Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect Pupillometer for Identifying Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Routine Healthcare

An observational study of Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories at 4 sites in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that can affect communication, social interaction, and behavior. Identifying ASD early helps children and families access support services sooner. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 24 to 60 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is being tested?
Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1, Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F) and Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2)
How many people
330 participants
Where
4 sitesUnited States
Study dates
23 Oct 2026to 30 Apr 2027
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 24 to 60 months
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Study population: Children and their parents/legal guardians in Washington and Idaho

Who may be able to join

  • Children between 24 months and 60 months of age

Who cannot join

  • Children with a prior diagnosis of ASD Children experiencing a seizure within the past 6 months prior to the first day of testing Children that have experienced head trauma Children that have hearing loss or vision loss corrected or uncorrected that impacts their daily life Children that had any known exposure to alcohol, drugs, prescription medications, or environmental toxins before or after birth

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States4 sites, 4 recruiting
  • SEL Health Clinic - Lewiston

    Lewiston, Idaho, 83501

    Keith Gautreaux, (509)338-3800, keith_gautreaux@selinc.com

    Teresa Blackner, BS, RN, (509)338-3800, teresa_blackner@selinc.com

    Recruiting
  • Palouse Pediatrics

    Moscow, Idaho, 83843

    Kathryn Hryniewicz, MD, (208)882-2247, kathryn.hryniewicz@pullmanregional.org

    Tracy Manderville, RN, (208)882-2247, tracy.manderville@pullmanregional.org

    Recruiting
  • Palouse Pediatrics

    Pullman, Washington, 99163

    Kathryn Hryniewicz, MD, (509)332-2605, kathryn.hryniewicz@pullmanregional.org

    Tracy Manderville, RN, (509)332-2605, tracy.manderville@pullmanregional.org

    Recruiting
  • SEL Health Clinic - Pullman

    Pullman, Washington, 99163

    Keith Gautreaux, MD, (509)338-3800, keith_gautreaux@selinc.com

    Teresa Blackner, RN, (509)338-3800, teresa_blackner@selinc.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that can affect communication, social interaction, and behavior. Identifying ASD early helps children and families access support services sooner. Pupillometry is a way of measuring the nervous system and brain function by recording the pupil response to light. It is a non-invasive technology that may support screening practices by providing health care providers with an objective physical measure to bolster behavioral screening tools used to identify children with ASD .

This study is evaluating how well the APS Detect™ handheld pupillometer works to help screen for ASD in children 2 to 4 years of age during routine pediatric healthcare visits. This investigational device measures the child's pupil response to light and uses these measurements to estimate the likelihood of ASD.

Read more

Researchers will compare screening results using the APS Detect with the results of reference standard clinical assessments used to determine whether a child has autism. The study will assess how accurately the device identifies children with autism compared to children with typical development based on the Autism Pupil Screen (APS) score.

The study will also evaluate whether the device provides the same results when used by different healthcare professionals. Information collected during this study will be used to evaluate device performance, safety, and suitability for use in pediatric healthcare settings and may support future review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Read the detailed description

This prospective, multicenter clinical study will test the safety and effectiveness of the APS Detect™ hand-held pupillometer for screening autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children 2 to 4 years of age during routine pediatric healthcare visits. Participants will undergo APS Detect pupillary light reflect (PLR) testing and standardized clinical evaluations used to determine ASD diagnostic outcomes. Device performance will be evaluated by comparing scores for each participant obtained from the device to the diagnostic outcomes determined through reference standard clinical assessments used to diagnose ASD.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the APS Detect for identifying children with ASD compared with children with typical development. Performance measures include sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, relative to the reference standard diagnosis.

An embedded precision sub-study will evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of APS scores obtained using the APS Detect. In this sub-study, a subset of participants will undergo multiple APS assessments performed by different clinicians to assess inter-operator consistency and measurement reproducibility.

Data collected during the study will be used to evaluate the performance of the APS Detect in its intended use environment and population and may support future regulatory submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Being tested
Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1, Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F), Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL)
Keywords
Autism Screening, Pupil Screening Autism, Early Identification, Medical Device, APS Detect
Medical subject headings
Autism Spectrum Disorder

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1Device

    The APS Detect™ is an investigational handheld pupillometer that measures pupillary light reflex (PLR) responses using a brief, noninvasive assessment. Measurements obtained by the device are used to generate an Autism Pupil Screening (APS) score that is intended to help identify children who may be at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during routine pediatric healthcare visits. The APS Detect is investigational and has not been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use.

  • Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F)Other

    A validated parent- or caregiver-completed screening tool used to identify children who may be at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The questionnaire is designed for children between 16 and 30 months of age and consists of an initial screening questionnaire followed by a structured follow-up interview for children with positive screening results. The M-CHAT-R/F is intended to identify children who may benefit from further developmental and diagnostic evaluation for ASD.

  • Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2)Other

    A standardized questionnaire used to measure the presence and severity of social communication difficulties and restricted or repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The SRS-2 is completed by a parent, caregiver, teacher, or other knowledgeable respondent and provides quantitative scores that help assess social functioning and identify characteristics associated with ASD across a range of ages. It is intended to support the screening and evaluation of individuals who may have ASD and to monitor changes in social responsiveness over time.

  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)Diagnostic test

    Also called ADOS-2 - Toddler Module, ADOS-2 - Module 1, ADOS-2 - Module 2, ADOS-2 - Module 3

    A standardized, play-based assessment administered by a trained clinician to evaluate social communication, social interaction, play, and restricted or repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The ADOS-2 consists of age- and language-specific assessment modules and is widely used as part of a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation to support the identification and classification of ASD.

  • Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL)Other

    A standardized developmental assessment administered by a trained examiner to evaluate cognitive and developmental functioning in young children from birth through 68 months of age. The assessment measures visual reception, fine motor skills, receptive language, and expressive language and provides information about a child's developmental abilities relative to age-based expectations.

  • Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3)Other

    A standardized assessment completed by a parent, caregiver, teacher, or other knowledgeable respondent to evaluate adaptive functioning in everyday life. The ABAS-3 measures skills across conceptual, social, and practical domains, including communication, self-care, social interaction, community use, and functional academics. Results provide an assessment of an individual's ability to perform age-appropriate daily activities and support the evaluation of developmental, intellectual, and behavioral functioning.

  • Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #2Device

    The APS Detect™ is an investigational handheld pupillometer that measures pupillary light reflex (PLR) responses using a brief, noninvasive assessment. Measurements obtained by the device are used to generate an Autism Pupil Screening (APS) score that is intended to help identify children who may be at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during routine pediatric healthcare visits. The APS Detect is investigational and has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use.

    This intervention will be used for the second assessment with the APS Detect™ in Arm B, the precision sub-study to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of the Autism Pupil Screening (APS) Detect™ investigational device.

  • Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect Assessment #3Device

    The APS Detect™ is an investigational handheld pupillometer that measures pupillary light reflex (PLR) responses using a brief, noninvasive assessment. Measurements obtained by the device are used to generate an Autism Pupil Screening (APS) score that is intended to help identify children who may be at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during routine pediatric healthcare visits. The APS Detect is investigational and has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use.

    This intervention will be used for the third assessment with the APS Detect™ in Arm B, the precision sub-study to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of the Autism Pupil Screening (APS) Detect™ investigational device.

  • Well-child checkProcedure or surgery

    A routine pediatric healthcare visit that includes assessment of growth, development, general health, and age-appropriate preventive care. The visit may include a physical examination, developmental surveillance, review of medical history, and discussion of health concerns with the child's parent or caregiver following the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures guidelines.

Study groups in NCT07903675
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm A - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within Arm A
Receives: Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1; Other: Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F); Other: Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2); Diagnostic Test: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2); Other: Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL); Other: Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3); Procedure: Well-child check
Arm A - Typical Development (TD) - Not ASDParticipants without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within Arm A
Receives: Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1; Other: Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F); Other: Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2); Diagnostic Test: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2); Other: Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL); Other: Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3); Procedure: Well-child check
Arm B - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within Arm B Precision Sub-study
Receives: Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1; Other: Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F); Other: Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2); Diagnostic Test: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2); Other: Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL); Other: Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3); Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #2; Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect Assessment #3; Procedure: Well-child check
Arm B - Typical Development (TD) - Not ASDParticipants without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within Arm B Precision Sub-study
Receives: Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #1; Other: Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT/R-F); Other: Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2); Diagnostic Test: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2); Other: Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL); Other: Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3); Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect PLR Assessment #2; Device: Autism Pupil Screen (APS) Detect Assessment #3; Procedure: Well-child check

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Sensitivity and Specificity of the APS Score to classify ASD diagnostic outcome

    This study will test the effectiveness of the APS Detect device results to accurately identify an atypical PLR score for children meeting the criteria for ASD. The study will also test the effectiveness of the APS Detect device results to accurately identify a typical PLR score for children who do not have ASD and have been identified as typically developing.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of all testing visits will be 14-30 days

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Positive Predictive Values and Negative Predictive Values

    These measures will assess the ability of the APS Detect score to predict the diagnostic outcome taking into consideration the prevalence of ASD, using prevalence rates reported by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. This measure will be taken at the end of the study for all child study participants enrolled. This helps determine how likely the device is to detect ASD in routine screening when compared to the general population.

    Measured: From enrollment to the end of all testing visits will be 14-30 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Oct 2026
  2. Study start23 Oct 2026
  3. Primary completion16 Apr 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
330 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07903675
Sponsor's protocol ID
26-0339
Acronym
APS001
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
22 Oct 2026
Last updated
29 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified participant data that underlie results in a publication.

Publications

  • Nystrom P, Gredeback G, Bolte S, Falck-Ytter T; EASE team. Hypersensitive pupillary light reflex in infants at risk for autism. Mol Autism. 2015 Mar 3;6:10. doi: 10.1186/s13229-015-0011-6. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 25750705
  • Guthrie W, Wallis K, Bennett A, Brooks E, Dudley J, Gerdes M, Pandey J, Levy SE, Schultz RT, Miller JS. Accuracy of Autism Screening in a Large Pediatric Network. Pediatrics. 2019 Oct;144(4):e20183963. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3963.

    PubMed 31562252
  • Lynch GTF, James SM, VanDam M. Pupillary Response and Phenotype in ASD: Latency to Constriction Discriminates ASD from Typically Developing Adolescents. Autism Res. 2018 Feb;11(2):364-375. doi: 10.1002/aur.1888. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

    PubMed 29087041
  • Daluwatte C, Miles JH, Sun J, Yao G. Association between pupillary light reflex and sensory behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders. Res Dev Disabil. 2015 Feb;37:209-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.11.019. Epub 2014 Dec 17.

    PubMed 25528080
  • Dinalankara DMR, Miles JH, Nicole Takahashi T, Yao G. Atypical pupillary light reflex in 2-6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res. 2017 May;10(5):829-838. doi: 10.1002/aur.1745. Epub 2017 Feb 11.

    PubMed 28188684
  • Nystrom P, Gliga T, Nilsson Jobs E, Gredeback G, Charman T, Johnson MH, Bolte S, Falck-Ytter T. Enhanced pupillary light reflex in infancy is associated with autism diagnosis in toddlerhood. Nat Commun. 2018 May 7;9(1):1678. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03985-4.

    PubMed 29735992
  • Lynch G. Using Pupillometry to Assess the Atypical Pupillary Light Reflex and LC-NE System in ASD. Behav Sci (Basel). 2018 Nov 21;8(11):108. doi: 10.3390/bs8110108.

    PubMed 30469373

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories at 4 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Georgina Lynch, PhD (509-334-8800, clinicaltrials@selinc.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Sensitivity and Specificity of the APS Score to classify ASD diagnostic outcome (time frame: From enrollment to the end of all testing visits will be 14-30 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07903675, which also lists 7 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2026.

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