Lifelabs

Increase your Diagnostic Yield Using One of the Curated, Comprehensive, or Custom Panels from LifeLabs Genetics. Genetic testing can deliver much more than ancestry information for the curious. Clinically focused Genetic testing yields data that inform accurate diagnoses for rare diseases, support medical decisions and may change the course of a person’s life.

WHO IS THIS TEST FOR?

LifeLabs Genetics offers testing for > 200-panel options.

Fixed Panels are best suited for healthcare providers who:

Seek confirmatory diagnostic testing for patients with suspected phenotypes

Prefer to minimize the likelihood of identifying variants of uncertain significance

Would like to test only those genes most commonly associated with the suspected phenotype

The Expanded Panel is best suited for healthcare providers who:

Aim to gain deeper insights into clinically relevant genes

Have a patient with an unidentified and/or highly heterogeneous phenotype

Do not have access to whole-exome sequencing

Have a patient with an identified phenotype and are in search of an affordable clinically-based exome instead of a disease-specific panel

Progressive panels are best suited for healthcare providers who:

Have a patient with an unidentified or heterogeneous phenotype, where whole-exome sequencing has already been attempted or was not available

Have a patient with an identified phenotype, but prefer to test a large number of genes related to the specified clinical indications

Would like to expand on the fixed content panels currently offered through LifeLabs Genetics or any other provider of genetic testing

Would like the ability to reflex to a larger data set if their choice in panel comes back negative

These tests do not identify your ancestry.

TIMING

Babies, children, and adults can all benefit from genetic testing depending on the health issues or life events they are facing

Turnaround times vary by test; results may become available to your physician in 4 to 6 weeks; expedited testing for prenatal cases is also available

Timing estimates do not include time required for physician appointments, requisitions, consent signatures, sample collection, statutory holidays, or courier/shipping times (samples are analyzed in Toronto or Germany)

TEST SPECIFICS

Panel testing utilizes next-generation sequencing to achieve optimal coverage of targeted bases

Fx Panels have >99% technical sensitivity across SNVs

Ex Panel has >99.6% technical sensitivity

ProGx Panels have >99.1% technical sensitivity

Simplified Pricing Structure – Most panels are $1,500 CAD, including CNV analyses

RESULTS & REPORTS

Reports are sent to physicians only; LifeLabs Genetics cannot share results directly with patients. The ordering physician will receive an email or fax when results become available. Actual results are never shared via email.

Results documentation includes the following:

Test type, date, methodology, result, and interpretation

Positive result: Indicates a genetic variant was identified in a specific gene and that variant is pathogenic or likely pathogenic (highly likely to be causal of the disease-related condition).

Uncertain result: Sometimes, gene variants are proven but their significance is not clear. This is stated in the results and discussed with you by your physician. This category of variant is not reported for fetal samples or samples from deceased persons.

LifeLabs is pleased to announce it has partnered with Bayer Inc. to launch FastTRK, a complimentary clinical testing program for the diagnosis of neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions in TRK fusion cancer patients in Canada.

Bayer founded the FastTRK program through partnerships with LifeLabs and the Kingston Health Sciences Centre, who are the initial labs that will be providing this centralized testing service. Bayer will cover the full cost of the test regardless of the results, treatment decision, and patient’s insurance coverage until at least the end of 2021.

“We’re pleased to be working with Bayer on this as it supports a common goal among many health care organizations in finding effective tests for patients with severe medical conditions such as cancer,” says Charles Brown, President, and CEO of LifeLabs. “Because this test is for such a rare form of cancer, it represents an exciting innovation that may lead to other treatment options for patients, where previous options have failed.”

Some cancers are caused by specific changes in genes (referred to as ‘genomic alterations’). TRK fusion cancer is caused by the fusion of an NTRK gene with another unrelated gene. TRK fusion cancer can occur in any organ or tissue type in the body, in both children and adults. FastTRK enables clinicians to test their patients’ cancer for the presence of an NTRK gene fusion across all solid tumor types. If an NTRK gene fusion is found, that patient may be eligible for a targeted treatment option.

“As new treatment options are approved to help cancer patients in Canada, in this new era of precision medicine, testing partnerships such as FastTRK are critical bridges to help clinicians identify which of their patients are candidates for specific targeted therapies,” says Dr. Shurjeel Choudhri, Senior Vice President and Head, Medical & Scientific Affairs for Bayer Inc.

Who can get tested through FastTRK?

Patients with solid tumors that are metastatic, or when surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and for whom no satisfactory treatment options are available, meet the criteria to be tested. Testing for NTRK gene fusions should be performed for patients with tumor types known to frequently harbor NTRK gene fusions.

A clinician must request the test. For more information on FastTRK or how to request a test, healthcare professionals can visit www.fasttrk.ca or email [email protected].

About LifeLabs

LifeLabs is Canada’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and health care practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor, and prevent disease. We support 20 million patient visits annually and conduct over 100 million laboratory tests through leading-edge technologies and our 5,700 talented and dedicated employees. We are a committed innovator in supporting Canadians to live healthier lives, operating Canada’s first commercial genetics lab and the country’s largest online patient portal, with more than 4.1 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs is 100% Canadian owned by OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans. Learn more at lifelabs.com.

About Bayer

Approximately 5-10% of all cancers are hereditary. An additional 10-30% of individuals may be at increased risk because they have close family members who also had cancer, suggesting a familial link, even though no specific hereditary link was found.

There are many types of familial cancers. For example, in certain families, women have a higher propensity to develop breast and/or ovarian cancer. This is known as Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC), which is often caused by an inherited mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (BRCA1/2). Harmful variants in BRCA1/2 may lead to an increased chance of developing other cancers as well, such as a fallopian tube, peritoneal, melanoma, pancreas, and/or prostate cancer.

More than 2,600 harmful mutations have been found in BRCA1/2.

Analysis of hereditary cancer genes involves a step-by-step look through the DNA of each gene for changes, known as mutations. Our panel looks at the 47 more common genes associated with increased risk of developing hereditary breast, ovarian, uterine, colorectal, gastric, prostate, melanoma, and pancreatic cancers. Genetic testing is most commonly performed on blood but can also be performed on saliva, tissue, or banked DNA.

Who Should Consider Testing?

It is estimated that 1/2 of men and 1/3 of women will develop cancer in their lifetime. 5-10% of cancers are hereditary, which means we can tell you more about your risks ahead of time.

Genetic testing may be appropriate if you or a close family member has:

Breast, colorectal, or uterine cancer diagnosed before age 50

More than one type of cancer

Cancer in both of a set of paired organs (for example, both kidneys or both breasts)

Certain types of cancer including ovarian, pancreatic, metastatic prostate, intraductal prostate, medullary thyroid, triple-negative breast or male breast cancer)

10+ gastrointestinal polyps

Breast or high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason score >7)

Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry

LifeLabs Genetics offers the following more targeted panels, each including pre- and post-test genetic counseling:

BRCA1, BRCA2 panel

Breast Cancer panel

Breast and Gynecologic Cancer panel

Colorectal Cancer panel

47 Gene Panel

TIMING:

Once the sample is received at LifeLabs Genetics, the team will schedule a pre-test genetic counseling session for the patient and, optionally, the ordering physician

Sample analysis by LifeLabs Genetics’ laboratory partner, Invitae, takes 4–6 weeks

The patient is strongly encouraged to attend a post-test genetic counseling session

QuantiFERON®–TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is a simple blood test for Tuberculosis (TB), an air-born and highly contagious infectious disease. While TB most frequently affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) it can also cause diseases in any part of the body, such as the lymph nodes, bones, brain, organs, and eyes. TB is a serious disease that kills about 1.5 million people each year worldwide. TB is spread when a person with active, infectious TB disease coughs, sneezes, or spits, releasing droplets containing TB bacteria into the air, which are then inhaled by someone else.

What is Latent TB?

Not everyone who is exposed to TB bacteria will develop an infection, and not all of those who become infected will develop symptoms of TB disease, which is why getting tested is so important. Those who are infected but have no symptoms are said to have a latent TB infection (LTBI), while those who do become sick have an active infection.

If you have latent TB, you do not feel sick but you could become sick at some point if your LTBI becomes an active TB infection. This happens to about 10% of people with untreated latent TB infections, who are otherwise in good health. A greater percentage of people with compromised immune systems, such as those suffering from malnutrition, tobacco users, those with diabetes, and especially those with HIV infection, are at greater risk of developing active TB disease.

What makes QFT-Plus better than the skin test?

With the QFT test, you only need to visit LifeLabs once to give a blood sample. With the skin test, you need to plan two visits to your healthcare provider: one to administer the test and one to check for results. The QFT-Plus test is better at helping your healthcare provider determine if you have TB, saves you time, and provides more accurate results than traditional skin prick testing.  There are no risks to getting this test done. All you need to do is get blood drawn at a select LifeLabs location in your province.

Who should have the QFT-Plus test?

QFT-Plus can be used in place of the skin test and is suitable for anyone who has:

Those with HIV infection

Those with chronic underlying conditions, including diabetes and kidney disease

Organ transplant recipients and others on immunosuppressant drugs

Pregnant women

The elderly

Additionally, people who work with, or are part of groups with high rates of infection, such as IV drug users, or confined populations, such as hospitalized patients, prisoners, and residents of nursing homes can also use this test. QFT-Plus works in people who have been previously vaccinated against TB, and can also be used to confirm a positive skin test result.

How can I get the QFT-Plus test?

QFT is available at select LifeLabs locations in Ontario and BC. You must bring a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

What will the test show?

The QFT-Plus test will help your healthcare provider determine if you have TB. It will show one of two results:

Positive – you will probably have TB. However, your healthcare provider needs to see you before confirming that you have TB

Negative- you probably do not have TB.

Most relevant in cases with heterogeneous or atypical phenotypes, whole-exome sequencing (WES) combines next-generation sequencing methods with powerful bioinformatics to identify and interpret changes in the protein-coding regions, or exons, of most genes in a single test. WES increases the chances of diagnosing complex genetic disorders and getting to the root cause of disease, faster.

Who Is This For?

Atypical or complex findings that may represent a new or rare syndrome

A suspected genetic disorder where the previous testing has been uninformative.  Medical answers are likely available only by sequencing the whole exome.  Heterogeneous phenotypes, such conditions as:

Epilepsy

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Bone diseases

Metabolic disorders

Cardiomyopathy

Complex dysmorphism

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)

Immunological disorders

Dementia

Metabolic disorders

Autism

Blindness

This test does not identify your ancestry. It is not recommended as a wellness screen, nor as a test to determine conditions for which you or your offspring may be susceptible to.

TIMING:

Standard, high quality, service turnaround time is 6 weeks

Prenatal, express service turnaround time is 3 weeks

Timing estimates do not include the time required for physician appointments, requisitions, consent signatures, sample collection, or courier/shipping times (samples are analyzed in Germany)

TEST SPECIFICS:

The test can be ordered for the proband only (singleton) or with parental and/or other family members (trio)

Utilizes the Twist Core Exome Plus kit (~36.5mb)

>98% of targeted bases covered at >20x (>99.5% of the CCDS regions), including +/-20bp exon-intron boundaries

>99.6% technical sensitivity and >99.8 technical specificity

CNV analyses by NGS included

Mitochondrial analyses available as add-ons

Raw data (.fastq, .bam, or .vcf file formats) and research report available

Opt-out option available for incidental findings

Incidental findings are only reported in the proband

Reports are sent to physicians only. LifeLabs Genetics will not share results directly with patients. The ordering physician will receive an email when results become available. Results are never shared via email; results will be made available on the CENTOGENE portal for viewing and downloading.

REPORTS & RESULTS:

Results documentation includes the following:

Test type, date, methodology, result, and interpretation

Positive result: Indicates a genetic variant was identified in a specific gene and that variant is pathogenic or likely pathogenic (highly likely to be causal of the disease-related condition).

Uncertain result: Sometimes, gene variants are proven but their significance is not clear. This is stated in the results and discussed with you by your physician. This category of variant is not reported for fetal samples or samples from deceased persons.

Negative result: If no disease-causing variant is found, genetic changes responsible for the disease or a tendency to have a disease may still exist and cannot usually be fully excluded.

Opt-out option available for incidental findings

We know not everyone is able to come to one of our Patient Service Centres, so our fleet of mobile services is ready to come to you. Serving thousands of patients every year in their home, or working in partnership with healthcare facilities, retirement homes, and businesses, our mobile lab collection team has a range of services to make lab tests simple and convenient. Our in-home blood collection and specimen pick-up service are available to patients in select provinces who meet certain criteria at the request of a physician.

You are eligible for in-home collection and specimen pick up if you reside in a long-term care facility or if are unable to leave your home due to:

physical immobility

physical/mental hardship and/or pain

public health risk of spreading communicable diseases such as rubella or chickenpox

Individuals are not eligible if they are:

able to drive a motor vehicle

able to arrange transportation for shopping, banking, or other activities

able and/or have returned to work

How to Arrange an In-Home Lab Visit?

Requests for home blood collection and specimen pick up must be made by your healthcare provider. Only requests from physicians and healthcare providers are accepted and any changes to the lab requisition must come from the physician that placed the order. Requests for services from patients or family members will not be accepted.

What is the Cost?

For qualifying individuals, there is a nominal fee for physician requested in-home lab service. We are also pleased to offer mobile lab services for long-term care residences and retirement homes.

How Long Can Service be Booked for?

Healthcare providers have been encouraged to start with targeted screening for groups at the highest risk of cancer. Routine cancer screening is starting up slowly to keep you and healthcare staff safe, and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The gradual reintroduction of routine cancer screening is consistent with the Ministry of Health’s directions to gradually start offering services that have been delayed because of COVID-19.

FIT is the recommended screening test for people at average risk* of getting colon cancer in Ontario. FIT is available across the province through Cancer Care Ontario’s organized colon cancer screening program, ColonCancerCheck. FIT is a safe and painless cancer screening test that can be done at home and only takes a few minutes. FIT checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer and some pre-cancerous polyps (growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time).

FIT has many advantages, such as:

It is user-friendly and reduces contact with stool

You only need to collect one stool sample

You can eat and take your medications as usual

People at average risk of colon cancer should be screened with FIT every two years. A person is at average risk if they are 50 to 74 years old with no first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, child) who has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

You can discuss your eligibility for a ColonCancerCheck FIT with your family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you are eligible for a FIT, the test will be ordered for you and LifeLabs will then mail a FIT package to your Ontario mailing address of choice.

If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-828-9213.

If you are in the North West region or the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand Brant region you can visit a mobile screening coach to discuss your eligibility for FIT.

If you live on a First Nation reserve, you can visit a health center or nursing station for more information.

Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will get a copy of your test result from LifeLabs. Cancer Care Ontario will also mail you a letter with your test result a few weeks after you have returned your completed FIT.

How do I return my completed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) sample?

It is important to return your completed FIT as soon as possible (within 2 days of taking your sample).

You can mail your completed FIT using the pre-paid yellow return envelope provided in the FIT package.

You can also drop it off at a LifeLabs Patient Service center – visit the LifeLabs Location Finder (locations.lifelabs.com) for drop-off locations and hours.

If you live on a First Nations reserve, please contact your health center or nursing station to discuss drop off options.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced within the prostate gland. PSA is mostly found in semen, but small amounts can also be found in the blood of healthy men. PSA levels naturally increase as men age because the prostate naturally enlarges over time. There are many reasons why PSA levels fluctuate, and higher levels may indicate the presence of prostate cancer or other prostate conditions (inflammation).

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men.

Typically slow-growing, prostate cancer can be present for many years before causing symptoms. Receiving news that you have an elevated PSA may be alarming, but it does not necessarily mean you require a biopsy or aggressive treatment. SelectMDx can help your physician determine whether you would benefit from a biopsy or simply require ongoing screening (active surveillance).

SelectMDx is a urine test that measures two cancer-related genetic biomarkers, HOXC6 and DLX1. Combined with other clinical factors like total PSA and age, the test produces a likelihood score of discovering clinically significant disease (defined as Gleason Score equal to or more than 7 [3+4 and 4+3]).

This provides your urologist with another important piece of information to consider when recommending whether a biopsy is required and potentially avoid unnecessary procedures. The test has a very high negative predictive value, meaning that a low likelihood result is correct in the vast majority of men (Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 98% for clinically significant cancer).

SelectMDx is recommended if a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test result has revealed PSA levels increased to between 4 – 10 ng/ml and/or you have had an abnormal digital rectal exam.

Process of Testing: SelectMDx is a two-part process for urine sample collection. First, your physician must conduct a prostatic message (via a digital rectal exam; DRE) to slough off cells from your prostate. Following this, you must provide a urine sample that is generally collected in your urologist’s office and delivered the same day to a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre along with a requisition completed by your physician.

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

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.

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?

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

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.”

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

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