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Determine your risk of bone fractures

Osteoporosis

Known as the “silent thief”, osteoporosis is responsible for the loss of bone mass without obvious symptoms until a bone is broken. By knowing your risk through a Serum CTX Test, you can prevent, delay or reduce bone loss.

How is the test performed?

Blood sample
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What is osteoporosis?

Strong bones are essential for good health. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone loss to occur more quickly than normal resulting in bones becoming thin and weak over time. When this happens, simple tasks such as bending over to pick up a bag, or even a minor trauma, can lead to breaks or cracks in the bone. Theses types of fractures commonly occur to the wrist, shoulder, spine and hip. It is estimated that 10% of Canadians over the age of 40 have osteoporosis and upwards of 90% of all hip fractures are a result of osteoporosis. While women are four times more likely that men to develop osteoporosis, anyone at any age can be at risk.

Today, no single cause for osteoporosis has been identified. Unfortunately, because screening for osteoporosis frequently occurs as the result of a bone break or fracture, by this time the disease is already fairly advanced and less treatable. Early detection is critical to prevent, delay or reduce the onset of osteoporosis.

What is the CTX Test?

Osteoporosis is a significant reduction in bone mass due to loss of proteins and minerals, such as calcium. This results from an imbalance between the naturally occurring processes of bone formation and breakdown – a cycle also known as bone-turnover. Serum C-telopeptide (CTX) test measures the amount of degraded bone circulating in the bloodstream by detecting the C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen – a protein component of bone. Serum CTX can detect relevant changes in bone breakdown in as little as a few months, unlike bone mass density test which requires several years to generate a measurable output.

Additional information can be found in our Osteoporosis CTX Test brochure here.

Who should get tested?

Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but the risk increases with age. You should speak to your healthcare provider about having a Serum CTX test if you have some of the following risk factors:

  • Are over the age of 50
  • had bone mineral density (BMD), thyroid hormones, calcium and vitamin D tests that suggest you may be at risk of osteoporosis
  • have disorders associated with rapid bone loss such as rheumatoid arthritis or malabsorption syndrome
  • have used glucocorticoids such as prednisone for prolonged periods
  • have experience fragility fractures
  • experienced premature menopause or are a menopausal woman
  • have a parent who had a hip fracture
  • have a spine fracture or low bone mass identified on x-ray
  • are a smoker
  • have high alcohol intake
  • have low body weight or major weight loss
When is this test ordered?

Your healthcare provider may order a Serum CTX test if you:

  • are over the age of 50
  • had bone mineral density (BMD), thyroid hormones, calcium and vitamin D tests that suggest you may be at risk of osteoporosis
  • have disorders associated with rapid bone loss such as rheumatoid arthritis or malabsorption syndrome
  • are already taking treatment for osteoporosis and wants to monitor the success of your treatment

You can order the test here. 

How can I 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. Fasting is required for this test and you are encouraged to book an appointment to reduce your waiting time. Please refer to our fasting procedures on how to properly prepare this test.

You can order the test here. 

Understanding your results

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

  • Serum CTX levels

An increased Serum CTX level may indicate an increased risk of bone fracture even if your bone mass density result is not in the range associated with osteoporosis.

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Overview

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.1 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.

Elevated levels of CTX indicate increased bone resorption. Increased levels are associated with osteoporosis, osteopenia, Paget disease, hyperthyroidism, and hyperparathyroidism.

In patients taking antiresorptive agents (bisphosphonates or hormone replacement therapy), a decrease of less or equal to 25% from baseline CTX levels (i.e., prior to the start of therapy) 3 to 6 months after initiation of therapy indicates an adequate therapeutic response.

Additional information can be found in our Osteoporosis Serum CTX Test brochure here.

How to order

​Samples for Serum CTX testing may be taken at any of our Patient Service Centres. Please use a standard requisition form and indicate ‘CTX’ in the ‘Other Tests’ section. Patients must present the completed form at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre. Fasting of 8-10 hours is required in advance of the test and morning samples are preferred.

Cost

CTX is currently an uninsured test. The cost is: $65

Payment may be made by the patient when the blood sample is taken at one of our Patient Service Centres. For convenience, Visa, Mastercard and Debit Cards are excepted.

Patients are encouraged to check with their private healthcare insurer to see if coverage is provided.

Receiving results

Results will be available to you within two weeks.

Request more information

We have a wealth of medical experts available to support you in interpreting test results.
Consults with our experts are available upon request. Request medical consultation.

    Request more information

    Schedule a test

    A Serum CTX test may be scheduled directly by the patient at any of our Patient Service Centres offering this service. They must have a requisition form completed by a physician or healthcare provider.

    Find a Location   Schedule an Appointment

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