Cardiac Genetic Testing

Mutations associated with inherited cardiovascular diseases and sudden cardiac death can be detected through Diax Lab’s exhaustive Cardiac Genetic Testing.

Our panel includes 174 genes with known associations to 17 different inherited cardiac conditions. Cardiac Genetic  Testing can be ordered in smaller, disease-specific panels or in one comprehensive panel.

→ Comprehensive Cardiac Disease Assessment provides an in-depth look at a patient’s overall cardiac health, increases the detection of sub-clinical coronary artery disease, identifies the risk for artery wall Atherosclerotic Disease activity and Coronary Artery Disease. The panel also contains comprehensive arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy risk evaluation.

→ Comprehensive Arrhythmia Panel is used primarily to diagnosis cases in which a clearly defined phenotype cannot be established but in which cardiac arrhythmia is the main indication.

→ Comprehensive Cardiomyopathy Panel is used to diagnose cases in which there is an apparent degree of myocardial involvement but without a completely clear phenotype or with diagnostic uncertainties; when there is an overlap between phenotypes in the patient or family; and also can be used as a predictive test when a pathogenic mutation is detected.

→ Comprehensive Atherosclerosis and Diabetes Risk Panel tests for a patient’s risk for coronary artery and other vascular disease, and diabetes, including early detection of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY).

Startling Statistics

 90% of those with FH don’t know they have it. If left untreated:

Males have a 50% risk for heart attack by age 50

Females have a 30% risk for heart attack by age 60

Genetics and Familial Hypercholesterolemia

High cholesterol can be inherited, and patient risk for developing heart disease can be reduced by knowing important risk factors.

Family History. Any patient with a family history of high levels of LDL-C (bad cholesterol) may have a genetic variant that causes inherited high cholesterol, a condition known as Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) (or Type 2 Hyperlipoproteinemia). FH is highly prevalent in the United States, with 1.3 million people – 1 in 250 – having the condition and carrying and 20% increased risk of developing heart disease.

Ethnicity. While anyone with a close family member with FH or high LDL-C cholesterol levels is at risk, FH is particularly common among certain ethnic and racial groups, including those of French Canadian, Finnish, Lebanese and Dutch descent.

The Importance of an Early Diagnosis. FH is typically more severe, with higher cholesterol levels and heart disease at a significantly younger age, than non-genetic hypercholesterolemia. An early FH diagnosis can help patients make appropriate lifestyle adjustments and seek necessary treatments before the effects become permanent and irreversible. A diagnosis also is important to that patient’s family members at risk for the condition because the parents, siblings and children of a person who has the genetic variant that causes FH have a 50% chance of also having inherited that same genetic variant.

Who Orders Cardiac Genetic Testing?

Cardiologists

To offer their patients a more personalized medicine approach by detecting potential underlying genetic etiology of a condition

Family and Internal Medicine Doctors

To offer their patients and patient’s families more insight into cardiovascular and diabetic conditions

Endocrinologists

To offer diabetic patients a thorough cardiovascular risk assessment

 

Genetics and Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young

Our panel distinguishes MODY, a form of diabetes caused by a mutation or changes in a single gene, from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.  

Family History and The Importance of Testing. MODY runs in families, tied to a single gene that is passed on from parent to child – Autosomal Dominant Inheritance. Any child of a parent with the MODY mutation has a 50% chance of inheriting that affected gene and developing MODY. Of the four types of MODY – HNF1-alpha, HNF4-apha, HNF1-beta and glucokinase – the first three carry long-term risks that should be monitored by a physician.

Thorough Lab Results

The results of our wet lab testing are backed by a dry software report that provides an extensive yet understandable interpretation of the data.

Distributor Opportunities

Diax Labs is among the few testing laboratories that offer exhaustive cardiac genetic testing. 

→ This is a valuable, high-demand product you can sell successfully.

To learn more about unique opportunities for distributors, contact Sara Carpenter, Managing Director at 410-703-1531 or email CardiacGeneticsDistributor@diaxlabs.com.

 

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