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DELAY IN TAT FOR ASCORBIC ACID – AKA VITAMIN C TESTING
LifeLabs is launching Molecular Screening for Malarial Parasites in June 2024.
RESUMPTION OF 24-HOUR URINE OXALATE TESTING IN BC
LifeLabs introduces new features to MyCareCompass to offer patients an enhanced online experience in booking appointments and managing their health in...
Holiday Season Turnaround Time for Panorama™ NIPT Results
LifeLabs partners with LifestyleRx to expand services and support for managing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes
Notice of closure for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
LifeLabs is launching the Infectious Diarrhea Panel (IDP) on September 18 2023
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Our Tests
Services
Assessing risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Klinrisk
Testosterone Test
Bioavailable Testosterone Testing
Assess your risk of developing liver fibrosis
Liver Fibrosis Testing
Sexually Transmitted Infection of the Genital and Urinary Tract
Mycoplasma Genitalium Testing
Your trusted healthcare partner for supporting Immigration Medical Exams.
Immigration Diagnostic Test Panel
Testing Options for Long
COVID Assessment
COVID-19 Antibody Testing
COVID-19 Antibody Blood Test Panel
IMPORTANT: This test is no longer available for purchase. For customers that already have a requisition, samples will continue to be collected at our Patient Service Centers until Sept 30, 2023.
Diagnosing Allergies
Serum Allergy Testing
Diagnosing H. pylori Infection
H. pylori Infection.
COVID-19 Antibody Testing
COVID-19 Antibody Blood Test
Reaching a definitive diagnosis of hypertension
24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)
Take the guesswork out of your diet
IgG Food Sensitivity Testing
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
(Omega-3)
Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Helping Naturopathic Doctors Gain a Better View of the Health Status of their Patients
Patient Assessment Panels
1. Convenient
2. Comprehensive <...
Personalized Risk Assessment of Prostate Cancer
SelectMDx Testing
Fecal Calprotectin Testing
Differentiating Between IBS and IBD
QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus)
QUANTIFERON-TB GOLD Plus (FOR TB SCREENING)
Know Your Risk for Heart Attacks
SmartVascular Dx™
Early Detection of Prostate Cancer
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
Determine your risk of bone fractures
Osteoporosis
Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
HPV Testing
Diagnosing Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease
Detecting Rheumatoid Arthritis
Anti-CCP
Fertility Test
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)
Vitamin Levels
25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test
for proper growth and healthy teeth and bones throughout your life.
Find Test by Condition
- predict age of menopause
- confirm diagnosis of premature ovarian failure
- predict likelihood of IVF success. (AMH levels correlate positively with number of retrieved oocytes1 and low AMH levels predict a lower likelihood of follicle response.
- assess risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) caused by exaggerated response to gonadotropin treatment
- help diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Detecting Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Anti-CCP test is a blood-based immunological 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 rheumatoid arthritis patients. The Anti-CCP test can diagnose the disease at a very early stage, sometimes years before the development of clinical symptoms.
An Anti-CCP test may be ordered together with a rheumatoid factor (RF) test and JOINTstat to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to assess the severity and probable course of the disease. Anti-CCP may also be ordered to help evaluate patients at high risk of developing RA, or as a follow-up test to a negative RF test when clinical signs and symptoms of RA are present.
Diagnosing Celiac Disease
Celiac disease occurs in about 1% of Canadians and symptoms can vary dramatically and easily be mistaken for food allergies or intolerance. We offer a combination of two tests that measure the amount of the IgA class (immunoglobulin A) and IgG class (immunoglobulin G) autoantibodies.
- Tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG): IgA class is the primary test ordered to screen for celiac disease. It is the most sensitive and specific blood test for celiac disease and is the test recommended by the Canadian Celiac Association.
- Deamidated Gliadin IgG antibodies: Around 2-3% of people with Celiac disease have an IgA deficiency, which can lead to a false negative result of the tTG, IgA test. This is when a test to measure IgG is recommended.
Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
Persistent infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the principal cause of cervical cancer and its precursor cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). There are more than 118 different types of HPV and approximately 40 different HPVs that can infect the human anogenital mucosa. However, only a subset of these types is considered high-risk for the development of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions.
HPV testing at LifeLabs is done using Roche Cobas® HPV assay, which detects the presence of 14 high risk HPV types, and specifically identifies HPV16 and HPV18.
Detecting Osteoporosis
Serum C-telopeptide (CTX) is commonly used for diagnosing and monitoring patients with osteoporosis. This test measures the amount of bone turnover products circulating in the bloodstream by detecting the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen – a protein component of bone.
Serum CTX can detect clinically-relevant change in bone resorption that occurred over as little as a few months, unlike bone mineral density (BMD) radiologic tests which require several years of bone loss to generate a measurable output. Consequently CTX is able to provide better guidance for treatment plans. Serum CTX is the most established test of bone breakdown used in clinical trials of osteoporosis drugs. In combination with BMD test, Serum CTX test may be used to enhance the estimation of the future risk of bone fractures.
Early Prostate Cancer Detection
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio screening test measures the total PSA level and free PSA levels in the blood. The percentage of measured free PSA is useful in assessing the risk of prostate cancer in patients with borderline or moderately increased total PSA. When combined with your complete clinical assessment, it can help determine whether a follow-up prostate biopsy is required.
In addition to early prostate cancer detection, PSA ratio tests can be used to:
- predict a prognosis (outcome) for prostate cancer
- predict if cancer has spread outside the prostate
- plan treatment for prostate cancer
- monitor the efficacy of prostate cancer treatments
- if cancer has reoccurred
Knowing the Risk for Heart Attacks
The SmartVascular Dx™ test (formerly called the PULS test) measures the most clinically-significant protein biomarkers that measure the body’s immune system response to arterial injury. These injuries lead to the formation and progression of cardiac lesions which may become unstable and rupture, leading to a cardiac event. A SmartVascular Dx™ test may also be used in conjunction with a cholesterol test for a more accurate picture of your heart health.
SmartVascular Dx™ test is just one of the many tests we offer to assist healthcare providers in risk characterization and ongoing therapeutic monitoring of patients with cardiovascular disease.
25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test
The 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D test is a simple blood test and the best way to monitor Vitamin D levels. The test is also known as the 25-OH Vitamin D test and the calcidiol 25-hydroxycholecalcifoerol test. This test should be ordered if there are clinical indications of vitamin D deficiencies including if the patient has conditions commonly associated with vitamin D deficiencies.
Healthcare Providers FAQs
The Medical/Scientific staff at LifeLabs welcomes consultations from all healthcare providers regarding:
- general information about laboratory testing (utilization issues, appropriate tests to order)
- the interpretation of specific results specific
- questions or problems with testing
The laboratory has defined a number of criteria for a blood film examination based on the CBC results. If these criteria are not met, then a blood film will not be done.
Most platelet clumping occurs in EDTA collected specimens. To obtain a platelet count, specifically order another CBC to be done on a citrated specimen. This will often allow for a platelet count to be determined.
Hemoglobin fractionation (Hemoglobin electrophoresis) will allow for a diagnosis of Beta-Thalassemia trait , but a definitive diagnosis of alpha thalassemia trait requires genetic testing.
Laboratory methods can accurately report results within specified ranges which have been confirmed for each test. The “>” or “<” on a report indicates that the concentration in the sample is either greater than or less than the measureable limits of that test. If the result is clinically abnormal it will be flagged as either “HI” or “LO”.
Sometimes the appropriate time for taking a TDM sample is immediately prior to the next dose when the drug concentration is at its minimum (trough concentration). Sometimes, a sample collected immediately after drug administration (peak concentration) may be required. Evaluation of the clinical significance of the test result therefore depends on knowledge of the time when the sample was drawn.
Knowing the level of monomeric (active) prolactin in a sample helps interpret the clinical significance of the macroprolactin result. The procedure for measuring macroprolactin actually requires determination of the monomeric prolactin result.
Among the likely causes of a spuriously high potassium are challenges with sample collection, time to centrifugation and sample transportation issues. Clenching your fist before or during sample collection can also contribute to spuriously high potassium results.
PHL and LL use different methods for hepatitis testing and sometimes results from these two methods can and will differ. We usually recommend retesting. If the repeat results also differ you can consult our Medical Scientific team.
The test for ANAs can also detect non-nuclear (cytoplasmic) autoantibodies. Where no ANA is detected but we observe a cytoplasmic pattern we have to indicate “negative” for ANA but best practice demands that we report the presence of these cytoplasmic autoantibodies.
No. All drugs included in the BST menu will be tested with each BST screen. Only drugs detected above the reporting cut off will be reported.
This could be one of the answers, but there are other possibilities. For example the opiate drug screen test has poor cross-reactivity with this drug and so may not detect it. Pre-analytical error such as sample misidentification is another possibility. Contact one our Medical/Scientific staff for further assistance.
The opiate screen can detect natural opiates such as codeine and morphine. Cross-reactivity is poor with semi-synthetic opiates such as hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone. In addition, the test will not detect any of the synthetic opioids (i.e. fentanyl, tramadol, meperidine), methadone, or buprenorphine.
The Medical/Scientific staff at LifeLabs welcomes consultations from all healthcare providers regarding:
- general information about laboratory testing (utilization issues, appropriate tests to order)
- the interpretation of specific results specific
- questions or problems with testing
The laboratory has defined a number of criteria for a blood film examination based on the CBC results. If these criteria are not met, then a blood film will not be done.
Most platelet clumping occurs in EDTA collected specimens. To obtain a platelet count, specifically order another CBC to be done on a citrated specimen. This will often allow for a platelet count to be determined.
Hemoglobin fractionation (Hemoglobin electrophoresis) will allow for a diagnosis of Beta-Thalassemia trait , but a definitive diagnosis of alpha thalassemia trait requires genetic testing.
Laboratory methods can accurately report results within specified ranges which have been confirmed for each test. The “>” or “<” on a report indicates that the concentration in the sample is either greater than or less than the measureable limits of that test. If the result is clinically abnormal it will be flagged as either “HI” or “LO”.
Sometimes the appropriate time for taking a TDM sample is immediately prior to the next dose when the drug concentration is at its minimum (trough concentration). Sometimes, a sample collected immediately after drug administration (peak concentration) may be required. Evaluation of the clinical significance of the test result therefore depends on knowledge of the time when the sample was drawn.
Knowing the level of monomeric (active) prolactin in a sample helps interpret the clinical significance of the macroprolactin result. The procedure for measuring macroprolactin actually requires determination of the monomeric prolactin result.
Among the likely causes of a spuriously high potassium are challenges with sample collection, time to centrifugation and sample transportation issues. Clenching your fist before or during sample collection can also contribute to spuriously high potassium results.
PHL and LL use different methods for hepatitis testing and sometimes results from these two methods can and will differ. We usually recommend retesting. If the repeat results also differ you can consult our Medical Scientific team.
The test for ANAs can also detect non-nuclear (cytoplasmic) autoantibodies. Where no ANA is detected but we observe a cytoplasmic pattern we have to indicate “negative” for ANA but best practice demands that we report the presence of these cytoplasmic autoantibodies.
No. All drugs included in the BST menu will be tested with each BST screen. Only drugs detected above the reporting cut off will be reported.
This could be one of the answers, but there are other possibilities. For example the opiate drug screen test has poor cross-reactivity with this drug and so may not detect it. Pre-analytical error such as sample misidentification is another possibility. Contact one our Medical/Scientific staff for further assistance.
The opiate screen can detect natural opiates such as codeine and morphine. Cross-reactivity is poor with semi-synthetic opiates such as hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone. In addition, the test will not detect any of the synthetic opioids (i.e. fentanyl, tramadol, meperidine), methadone, or buprenorphine.
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Inside Diagnostics - December 2022
Inside Diagnostics Ontario - November 2022
Inside Diagnostics Newsletter - November 2021
Health Care Providers’ - September 2024 newsletter
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Health Care Providers’ Newsletter - April 2024
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- Order your FlyClear test and receive your FlyClear test requisition.
- Book your Home Visit appointment with the MyVisit portal or, if your flight is within the next five days, contact a MyVisit coordinator 1-416-993-9579 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm EST)
MyVisit Pre-departure testing offers:
- COVID-19 PCR/NAAT swab testing
- COVID-19 Antibody Blood (serology) testing
The MyVisit fee is $80 per person.
Pre-Departure testing
Book your appointment online here. If your flight is within the next five days and you have received your FlyClear requisition, please contact a MyVisit coordinator 1-416-993-9579 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm EST).