Lifelabs As The Medical Laboratory Partner For The NHL’s Return to Play Plan

LifeLabs is pleased to share that it has been selected as the medical laboratory partner for the NHL’s Return to Play Plan as part of LifeLabs’ WorkClear program, an evidence-based approach to help companies bring employees safely back to work.

Life Labs has worked with the NHL to design and deploy a COVID-19 testing model that best suits their needs and enables the league to return to play, while keeping all players and personnel safe. Testing combined with daily risk assessment questionnaires, temperature checks, physical distancing, and wearing face masks can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.

To ensure the safety of the community, LifeLabs will also test the hospitality and transportation staff that will be supporting the NHL’s Return to Play Plan. LifeLabs’ WorkClear program for the NHL will ensure the integrity of the bubble and will support early detection of COVID-19 to allow for intervention from Public Health officials.

“As Canada’s largest medical diagnostics company, LifeLabs is uniquely positioned to support the NHL as they restart their season and get the players back on the ice safely, so that Canadians can enjoy the hockey season,” says Charles Brown, President & CEO of LifeLabs. “This partnership allows the NHL to focus on the game, while LifeLabs focuses on providing high quality, safe, and accurate testing for its teams and personnel staff.”

“LifeLabs is a leader in its field and we are delighted to work with the LifeLabs team during our Return to Play,” says Bill Daly, NHL Deputy Commissioner. “As we endeavor to keep the 12 Clubs gathering in Toronto safe as they begin their pursuit of the Stanley Cup, we are reassured by having LifeLabs’ expertise and excellence to assist us.”

For more information about LifeLabs’ WorkClear program visit www.lifelabs.com

WorkClear Cleaning and Consulting | Lifelabs

WorkClear by LifeLabs® is an evidence-based and customizable solution to help organizations in Canada manage and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmissions within workplaces and locations where physical distancing is difficult. This approach, guided by public health guidelines and protocols, offers an end-to-end solution that helps employers reduce the risk of workplace transmission of the Coronavirus by identifying asymptomatic and symptomatic carriers.

WorkClear Offers:

• COVID-19 screening and testing for your employees.​
• Streamlined management of employees’ health and safety, with integrated technology and management systems.​
• The delivery of all lab test results for all appropriate health care stakeholders through integrated technology and information systems. ​
• Evidence-based screening, collection, and testing processes that meet compliance with accreditation standards for high quality, safe, and accurate testing. ​
• End-to-end solutions, from the back-end validation of equipment, logistics, procurement of screening, collection, and testing materials to the front-end including staffing to support screening, collection, and patient care services.​

LifeLabs will work with employers to design and deploy a unique service delivery model that best suits their needs. Current offerings include on-site collection and mobile collection to homes or offices. 

“As the world enters into a new normal, workplaces must equip themselves with new tools and processes that ensure employee health and safety,” says Lawrence Mahan, Senior Vice President, Commercial, General & Advanced Diagnostics. “Through the WorkClear program, LifeLabs is providing a value-added service that will help get Canadians back to work with confidence as we look to re-start our economy.”  

As Canada’s leading lab diagnostics company, LifeLabs will deliver and oversee evidence-based screening, collection, and testing solutions that are compliant with accreditation standards for high quality, safe, and accurate testing. LifeLabs’ WorkClear solution includes validation of equipment, logistics, procurement of screening, collection and testing materials as well as front-end staffing to support screening, collection, and patient care services.

Celiac Disease Testing By Lifelabs

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by eating grains that contain gluten such as wheat, rye, and barley. Over time, this autoimmune response to a perceived threat can cause irreversible damage to the small intestine and prevent your body from absorbing nutrients critical for good health. About 1% of Canadians have celiac disease and it can appear at any age. 

Celiac symptoms and food intolerance or allergies can appear to be similar, but allergies and intolerances do not damage the lining of the intestine. It’s important to determine the causes of your symptoms so that you have the right care plan developed.

What is Celiac Test?

If a person has celiac disease, their body produces two antibody proteins, immunoglobin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), in response to a perceived threat, in this case, gluten. LifeLabs offers a combination of two tests to measure the amount of these proteins in the blood:

• Anti TTG IgA
• Anti Deamidated Gliadin IgG

While IgA is the primary antibody produced in individuals with celiac, some people have an IgA deficiency which produces a false negative. This is why our bundle of celiac tests includes a second test to detect the antibody IgG.

Who Should Get Tested?

You can be tested for celiac disease at any age. The symptoms are often nonspecific and variable, making the disease difficult to spot. You should speak with your doctor if you have a family history of celiac disease, or if you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms commonly associated with celiac disease including:

• abdominal pain and bloating
• chronic diarrhea
• weight loss
• extreme fatigue
• flatulence
• unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
• joint pain

How Can an Individual 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.

Results:

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

• Whether IgA protein is present in your blood and the levels
• Whether IgG protein is present in your blood and the levels

If your test results show the presence of either the IgA or IgG proteins, your healthcare provider may suggest additional testing before developing a treatment plan. Order the test here.

Lifelabs and Rocky Mountain Analytical

Together with parent company LifeLabs, and partnership with industry leader Genova Diagnostics, Rocky Mountain Analytical offers a complete suite of tests to help easily identify a broad range of health conditions. Canadian owned and operated, Rocky Mountain Analytical has significant expertise in functional and integrative medicine. Our broad expertise enables us to provide clinical support to both new and experienced functional and integrative medicine professionals.

Rocky Mountain Analytical has been providing functional medicine testing to arm healthcare practitioners with vital insights into their patients’ health since 2002. With roots as a small lab in Alberta, we have since grown to become part of Canada’s largest community lab, LifeLabs, and partnered with one of the largest functional medicine labs in North America, Genova Diagnostics.

Since 2013, RMA and LifeLabs have worked together to support the growing community of functional medicine practitioners across Canada. Through this partnership, LifeLabs and RMA provide the infrastructure, investments, and strategic partnerships that help practitioners and their patients manage their health in a way that’s most meaningful to them.

In 2020, LifeLabs and RMA began a partnership with Genova, a leading global clinical laboratory, to provide a comprehensive test menu to RMA clients and their patients. Through our shared commitment to innovation, quality, care, and outstanding customer service, RMA and LifeLabs—and now Genova—are working to continually advance the health and wellbeing of Canadians with a complete offering of both conventional laboratory and integrative functional medicine testing.

Lifelabs care about people’s health and are committed to building a healthier Canada. At every step in the testing process, from collection to reporting, we provide caring, efficient, reliable, and high-quality services. As a trusted partner supporting patients, healthcare providers, corporate customers, and entire provincial healthcare systems, we are continually harnessing our medical expertise to build the best test offering while investing in technology to transform the delivery of health care.

Electrocardiograms (ECG) Heart Monitoring | Lifelabs

An electrocardiogram, commonly known as an ECG, records how your heart is functioning by measuring its electrical activity through the placement of small sensors on the chest, arms, and lower legs. By measuring the rate and regularity of heartbeats, it can show an abnormal heartbeat, the presence of any damage, or enlargement of the heart muscle. An ECG can also show if your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen and the effects of drugs or regulating devices. The test is quick, safe, and painless.

When Test is Ordered?

Your doctor may suggest you have an ECG for a variety of reasons including to:         

• do a routine annual check of your heart
• monitor your heart rhythm
• show electrical changes in your heart and if oxygen has been reduced
• diagnose a heart attack or other conditions
• monitor abnormal heart structure such as a thickened heart muscle

How is the Test Done?

An ECG is completed in one of Lifelabs Patient Service Centres and involves placing sensors to your chest arms and lower legs to monitor your heart for a brief period. When you arrive, the lab assistant will ask you a few health-related questions (height, weight, medications, symptoms, reason for the testing, if you have had this test performed before and whether you have a pacemaker) and ask you to:

• Remove all your clothing from the waist up as we require a bare chest to position the chest sensors. A sheet will be provided so you can cover yourself.
• Expose your lower legs below the knees. You will be asked to remove pantyhose or tights; however, you may keep your shoes and socks on.
• Lay flat on your back on the ECG bed.

Once you are laying on the bed and relaxed, the lab assistant will:

• Rub alcohol on a small area of your upper arms and lower legs and chest (around the heart area).
• Place six skin sensors on your chest and one on each arm and leg.
• Feel for rib spaces to ensure accurate chest sensor placement. Some placements may require lifting of the breast; this is done by using the back of the hand.
• Ensure you are covered once the sensors are placed and cables attached to preserve your modesty.
• Potentially place pillows under your legs or reapply one or more sensors to ensure an accurate reading.

How to Prepare for Test?

Very little preparation is needed to prepare for an ECG. On the day of the test, we ask that you:

• Wear loose-fitting clothing so pant legs can be easily moved up
• Avoid wearing pantyhose, tights or leggings
• Do not use talcums, lotions, moisturizers or perfumes

Results - Interpretation of ECG readings is done by a physician and the report will be forwarded to your healthcare provider within 3-5 working days. It’s important for you to discuss your ECG results directly with your healthcare provider as they will recommend whether additional testing or care is required.

What is Holter Monitoring? | How is Testing Done? | Lifelabs

A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records your heart activity for typically 24 to 72 hours and up to seven to 14 days. The device is small and light-weight and hangs around your neck connecting cable to sensors attached to your chest. A Holter monitor captures all your heart activity throughout the day and while your sleep. This allows a physician to determine if there are intermittent abnormalities to your heart rhythm over an extended period of time. The test is safe and painless.

When it Test Ordered?

Your healthcare provider may recommend a Holter monitor test to detect possible heart-related problems if you are experiencing symptoms such as:

• Irregular heartbeats
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Shortness of breath

How is Test Done?

A Holter monitor is set up at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre. When you arrive for your appointment, the lab assistant will ask you a few health-related questions (height, weight, medications, symptoms, reason for the testing, if you have had this test performed before and whether you have a pacemaker) and ask you to remove your shirt so disposable sensors can be attached to your chest. A lab assistant will then:

• Rub alcohol in the area of your chest where the sensors are to be attached.
• If necessary, shave any chest hair in the area a sensor will need to be attached
• Attach the sensors and then hook cables to the monitor and the sensors. Some patients may experience slight irritation or marking where the sensors are attached.
• Provide you with any specific instructions to ensure accurate testing.

The monitor is a little larger than a cell phone and will allow you to continue with your normal daily activity. Unless instructed otherwise, you must wear the monitor from the time it is connected until it is removed by LifeLabs. While you are wearing the monitor, it cannot get wet.

After the testing period, you will return to LifeLabs and have the monitor removed. The recordings will then be transmitted to a physician for reading with the findings forwarded to your healthcare provider.

How Long Does it Take?

There are three main components of Holter monitor testing:

• Placement of sensors: 30 minutes
• Wearing of the monitor: minimum 24-hours or as directed by your physician
• Removal of sensors: 15 minutes

You must wear the monitor from the time it is connected until it is removed by LifeLabs.

How to Prepare for Test?

Very little preparation is needed to prepare for a Holter monitor. On the day of the test, we ask that you:

• Shower or bathe just before your appointment. Unless directed otherwise, you will not be permitted to bathe while wearing the monitor.
• Do not use talcums, lotions, moisturizers, or perfumes prior to the appointment or while wearing the monitor.
• Wear a comfortable outfit that opens in the front, such as a loose, buttoned shirt. You cannot wear a full slip to the appointment or while wearing the monitor. You may wear a bra, but you will be required to leave it on throughout the duration of the test so as not to disturb the sensors.
• Bring a list of all currently prescribed medication and herbal remedies.
• If you have a pacemaker, bring your Pacemaker Card with the latest setting.

Understanding Your Results

Interpretation of Holter monitor readings is done by a physician and the report will be forwarded to your healthcare provider within 3-5 working days. It’s important for you to discuss your results directly with your healthcare provider as they will recommend whether additional testing or care is required.

Genetic Tests | Lifelabs

LifeLabs Genetics offers clinical, genetic testing, sample collection, and genetic counseling. The LifeLabs Genetics team provides a full suite of tests useful for planning your family, determining susceptibility to inherited disorders, tackling diagnostic challenges, getting the right medication, or predicting outcomes or recurrence.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing - Panorama is a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) that screens for common genetic conditions caused by extra or missing chromosomes in the baby’s DNA as early as 9 weeks.

Expanded Carrier Screening - Expanded Carrier Screening identifies parents-to-be that are likely to pass on genetic conditions to their children.

TreatGx Plus - Predicts an individual’s response to prescription medications by analyzing medication-to-medication, medication-to-disease, and medication-to-genetic interactions.

Hereditary Cancer - More and more Canadians with early cancer diagnoses or pronounced family histories of breast or ovarian cancers are considering BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) genetic testing.

Known Mutations and Single Genes - These 3500+ diagnostic and predictive single gene and genetic panel tests provide concrete, actionable insights that lead to informed decision making and personalized treatment.

Multi-Gene Panel Testing - “> 200-panel options, spanning more than 15 medical specialties, to provide actionable insight and informed decision making

Whole Exome Sequencing - To determine a cause for a complex genetic disorder, Whole Exome Sequencing analyzes thousands of genes simultaneously, providing an alternative to single-gene tests or multigene panels, to investigate the molecular basis of genetic disorders.

Whole Genome Sequencing - WGS is one of the latest genetic technologies that sequences the entire coding and non-coding regions of the genome to help provide answers for individuals with complex diseases where other tests have not.

Lifelabs Genetics, Canada's largest private clinical laboratory conducts life-saving and life-changing genetic tests from its lab in Toronto. Life labs maintain the College of American Pathologists and the institute of quality management in healthcare certification. Lifelabs make continued investment in new diagnostic technologies. Visit the official website https://www.lifelabs.com/ to learn more.