The test could enable doctors to diagnose and treat the debilitating disease much earlier, affording patients better quality of life.
Currently Parkinson's is diagnosed with a neurological examination.
By the time patients develop symptoms and undergo the exam, large numbers of brain cells have already been destroyed.
A blood test developed by researchers at Melbourne's La Trobe University will enable doctors to detect the abnormal metabolism of blood cells in people with Parkinson's, allowing them to provide treatment options much earlier.
La Trobe Professor of Microbiology Paul Fisher said so far, the blood test has been trailed on a small test group of 38 people with great reliability.
"This is a really exciting discovery. Parkinson's is a debilitating disorder and currently there is no cure", he said in a statement.
"However, early diagnosis and treatment could enable better outcomes and a greater quality of life for people with the condition, which will be of great benefit to sufferers and their families."
The test could be available to the public in five years if sufficient funds can be raised for its rapid development.
"It is even possible that the blood test could be developed to detect all types of neuro-degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's," Professor Fisher said.
The Shake It Up Australia Foundation and United States-based Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research have granted La Trobe more than $640,000 to further develop the diagnostic blood test.
American actor Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease in 1991. Source: Toyota
"We hope this is the start of a long and productive relationship with La Trobe University that will improve the lives of people with Parkinson's", Shake It Up CEO Ben Young said in a statement.
An estimated 80,000 Australians are affected by Parkinson's, which can severely impair mobility.
