We are pleased to share that under the Ministry of Health’s Community Access Pilot, two tests have been added under the program’s coverage for collection and testing when ordered by select health care specialists in Ontario.

Please note that these tests are not covered when ordered by general practitioners. Coverage is restricted to assigned healthcare specialists, therefore, if either of the tests listed below are ordered by a general practitioner, the requisition form must indicate “Patient-Pay”. If these tests are ordered by a specialist, no additional action is required when completing the requisition form.

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies (ANCA): This tests for ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV), a rare but serious life and organ threatening condition that can result in major morbidity and death. Coverage is restricted to Pediatrics, Internal Medicine including all specialties, Dermatology, Neurology, ENT, and Opthalmology. For other physicians ordering the test, patients will be charged a cost of $74. 

Anti-CCP Antibodies (also called ACPA): This test is used for diagnosing/prognosing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It can also diagnose the disease at a very early stage, sometimes before the development of clinical symptoms. Healthcare providers are instructed not to repeat this test if the results are positive, or within a year if the original results are negative. Coverage is restricted to Pediatrics, Internal Medicine including all specialties, and Dermatology. For other physicians ordering the test, patients will be charged a cost $58.  

This expansion supports us in our goals to offer Canadians greater accessibility to essential testing services that empower them to make informed decisions about their health.  If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you,

LifeLabs