PULS Cardiac Test by Lifelabs

Heart disease is a broad term for a group of conditions that can affect the heart and prevent it from properly functioning. This includes coronary heart disease which is the build-up of fatty plaque within your blood vessels. Over time as plaque hardens, it begins to narrow your arteries and reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque can also weaken or injure the walls of your arteries causing unstable lesions which could lead to a rupture. When these lesions are present, they leak unique proteins that can be detected in your bloodstream. Seventy-five percent of heart attacks are caused by unstable cardiac lesion ruptures. Detecting the presence of these lesions can be an indicator of your overall heart health and predict your risk for having a heart attack.

A Protein Unstable Lesion Signature Test, also known as the PULS test, measures the traces of proteins that leak from cardiac lesions in the blood vessel walls. By identifying the presence and levels of these proteins, along with HDL and HbA1c, it provides your physician with valuable information to help determine your risk for a heart attack and what steps you need to take to improve your cardiac health.

If you are over the age of 40 and have no previous history of heart attacks, you should speak to your healthcare provider to determine if the PULS test is right for you. A PULS test may also be recommended if you have one or more of the following risks factors:

 

• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Substance abuse
• Stress
• High cholesterol

Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Centre or via our mobile lab service (available in select cities) through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

Serum CTX Test for Osteoporosis By Lifelabs

Strong bones are essential for good health. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone loss to occur more quickly than normal resulting in bones becoming thin and weak over time. When this happens, simple tasks such as bending over to pick up a bag, or even minor trauma, can lead to breaks or cracks in the bone.

Theses types of fractures commonly occur to the wrist, shoulder, spine, and hip. It is estimated that 10% of Canadians over the age of 40 have osteoporosis and upwards of 90% of all hip fractures are a result of osteoporosis. While women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis, anyone at any age can be at risk.

Today, no single cause for osteoporosis has been identified. Unfortunately, because screening for osteoporosis frequently occurs as the result of a bone break or fracture, by this time the disease is already fairly advanced and less treatable. Early detection is critical to prevent, delay, or reduce the onset of osteoporosis.

Serum CTX Test: Osteoporosis is a significant reduction in bone mass due to loss of proteins and minerals, such as calcium. This results from an imbalance between the naturally occurring processes of bone formation and breakdown – a cycle also known as bone-turnover.

Serum C-telopeptide (CTX) test measures the amount of degraded bone circulating in the bloodstream by detecting the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen – a protein component of bone. Serum CTX can detect relevant changes in a bone breakdown in as little as a few months, unlike a bone mass density test which requires several years to generate a measurable output.

How to Get Tested? : Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Centre or via our mobile lab service (available in select cities) through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider. Fasting is required for this test and you are encouraged to book an appointment to reduce your waiting time. Please refer to our fasting procedures on how to properly prepare this test.

Anti-CCP Test for Rheumatoid Arthritis by Lifelabs

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system – which normally functions to protect you against infections – mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. RA causes redness, pain, swelling, or a hot (or warm) feeling in the lining of a joint and can also affect other internal organs such as the eyes, lungs, or heart. 

Each year, about 1% of Canadians are affective by RA. If left untreated RA can create debilitating and permanent joint damage. While the causes of RA are not completely clear, we know that people with RA frequently have the presence of antibodies directed against the body’s cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP).

Anti-CCP Test: The Anti-CCP test is a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies directed against the body’s cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP). These antibodies are frequently detected in the blood of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The Anti-CCP test is a highly accurate test and can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis at a very early stage, sometimes years before the development of symptoms.

Who Should Get Tested?: Anyone can get rheumatoid arthritis, but the risk increases with age and most commonly develops between 40 and 60 years of age. If you are experiencing symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis, you should talk to your doctor about being tested for RA. Individuals should also consider the Anti-CCP test who has a family history of rheumatoid arthritis. Women are also 2 to 3 times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men.

When Is Test Ordered? : Your healthcare provider may order an Anti-CCP test if you are experiencing typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and you:

• have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis
• are experiencing hormonal changes
• are between the ages of 40 and 69
• have recently had an infection
• have already been diagnosed with RA and your rheumatologist wants to monitor the RA protein levels.

Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Centre or via our mobile lab service (available in select cities) through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

Omege-3 Score Test by Lifelabs

The Omega 3 ScoreTM Test quantifies the fatty acids present in a sample of a patient’s whole blood. Specific levels of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the blood have been associated with a lower risk of sudden death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The Omega-3 Fatty acid test is a simple blood test. Several research studies published in leading medical and clinical nutrition journals have indicated that higher levels of the ‘long-chain’ Omega-3 Fatty Acids are associated with a lower risk for cardiac death, coronary heart disease, or sudden myocardial infarction.

When the test is ordered?

Although the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is related to cardiovascular risk, EPA and DHA measurements can provide a more accurate prediction of clinical cardiac events. Your healthcare provider may order this test for you if they’re evaluating you for Omega-3 therapy (if you’re found to be at risk of CVD or hyperglycemia – high blood sugar) or to monitor your dosage of omega-3 supplements.

The sum of EPA and DHA, expressed as a percentage of total phospholipid fatty acids, is called the omega-3 index. The index can be used as an indicator of risk for sudden cardiac death and nonfatal cardiovascular events.

Test Results:

Your Omega-Score will indicate to your doctor whether you’re at low risk, moderate risk, or high risk for developing fatty-acid related cardiovascular disease. The Omega ScoreTM is a measurement of the levels of the Omega-3 Fatty Acids in a blood sample. The summed amounts of these Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA+DPA+DHA) as a % of the total fatty acids represent the Omega ScoreTM in whole blood.

Is There a Test Charge?

This test may or may not be covered by your provincial health insurance plan, but is usually covered by all extended health plans. Contact LifeLabs customer care to find out about the current fee for the test.

When will I get my results?

Your doctor will receive the results between 5 to 10 business days from the date of the blood test.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Fertility Test by Lifelabs

The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a protein produced by granulosa cells in ovarian follicles. AMH levels tend to be at the highest around the age of 25 and then begin to decline after the age of 30. The level of AMH in the bloodstream can be an indicator of fertility in women, specifically in relation to the number of eggs in reserve in the ovaries. It can also help to predict menopause and diagnosis ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome.

What is an AMH test?

An AMH test is a blood test used to measure AMH levels circulating in your body. There is a relationship between AMH levels and fertility levels in women. The higher the AMH level, the higher the number of eggs.

Measuring AMH levels can help to:

• evaluate ovarian reserve (number of eggs)
• predict the likelihood of IVF success
• predict the age of menopause
• confirm diagnosis of premature ovarian failure
• assess the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
• diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Who should get tested?

If you are a woman experiencing difficulty becoming pregnant and considering in-vitro fertilization treatment (IVF), you should speak to your healthcare provider about whether an AMH test is right for you.

Your healthcare provider may also order an AMH test if they are concerned about:

• the onset of menopause
• ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

When is this test ordered?

The AMH test is commonly ordered for:

• women experiencing difficulty getting pregnant
• women considering undergoing IVF treatment
• diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• diagnosing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
• predicting the age of menopause

How can I get tested?

Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Center or via our mobile lab service through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

Understanding your results

Test results will be provided directly to your doctor for discussion with you. The report will indicate:

• AMH levels circulating in your blood
• Range levels for AMH levels

Your medical history, age and other factors influence the outcome of the tests. Your doctor will help explain the results and determine whether further testing or treatment is required.

High AMH levels can indicate:

• a higher the number of remaining ovarian follicles (eggs)
• a higher likelihood in a positive response to IVF
• polycystic ovary syndrome

A decline in AMH levels can reflect a number of items including:

• a progression to menopause
• a lower likelihood of positive response to IVF
• ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).