Page Banner
Know Your Risk for Heart Attacks

SMARTVascular Dx

The second leading cause of death among Canadians, heart attacks are often a silent killer with no signs or symptoms before they strike. Often resulting from coronary heart disease, heart attacks can be predicted and even prevented if you know and manage your risk.

How is the test performed?

Blood sample
Order Now

FAQs

What are unstable cardiac lesion ruptures and how are they linked to heart attacks?

Heart disease is a broad term for 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 blood stream.

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.

What is a SMARTVascular Dx Test?

A SMARTVascular Dx 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.

You can order the test here.

Who should get tested?

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 SMARTVascular Dx Test is right for you.

A SMARTVascular Dx 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

Up to 80% of all heart attacks are preventable. The early detection of unstable cardiac lesions, combine with the management of risk factors, can help reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attacks.

When is the test ordered?

Your healthcare provider will order a SMARTVascular Dx Test if you are over 40 and wish to create a baseline for your heart health, or if they are concerned about your heart health because you:

  • have the risk factors for heart disease
  • have the risk factors for a heart attack

A SMARTVascular Dx Test may also be used in conjunction with a cholesterol test if your physician wants a more accurate picture of your heart health. However, upwards of fifty percent of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels and thus cholesterol testing alone doesn’t provide a complete picture of cardiac health.

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.

You can order the test here.

Understanding your results

Test results will be provided directly to your healthcare provider for discussion with you. Your SMARTVascular Dx Test results will include:

  • Your personalized cardiac profile with individual test measurements for unstable cardiac lesions and the likelihood of rupture (heart attack).
  • Your “Heart Age” which shows your cardiac score relative to your age and gender group.
  • Recommended lifestyle modifications that may help maintain or reduce your chances of a heart attack.

Your medical history, age, gender and other factors will influence the outcome of the tests. Your physician will help explain the results and make recommendations for changes in lifestyles, additional treatments or if further testing is required.

Sources
  • Public Health Agency of Canada

FAQs

Overview

The SMARTVascular Dx 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.

How to order

Samples for SMARTVascular Dx Test may be taken at any of our Patient Service Centres. Patients must present with the specific SMARTVascular Dx Test requisition found below. This form must be completed by a physician or healthcare provider.

Cost

The SMARTVascular Dx Test is currently an uninsured test. The cost of the SMARTVascular Dx Test is: $366

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.

Patient are encouraged to check with their private health care provider to see if coverage is provided.

Urgent requests

Urgent or “stat” SMARTVascular Dx Test is not available. Patients clinically suspected of a serious cardiac event should be directed to a facility equipped to undertake intervention when this is required, not to a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre. For the same reason, biochemical markers of myocardial injury are not available on an urgent basis.

Receiving results

Results will be available to you within four 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 SMARTVascular Dx 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

    Sources
    • Public Health Agency of Canada

    People who looked at the SMARTVascular Dx Test were also interested in:

    Featured
    Services
    Your trusted healthcare partner for supporting Immigration Medical Exams.

    Immigration Diagnostic Test Panel

    LifeLabs® is the largest medical diagnostic laboratory in Canada, that works with government-regulated immigration panel physicians to offer immigration medical exams in an efficient, timely, and customer-focused manner. The Immigration Medical Exa...
    Learn More

    Testing Options for Long
    COVID Assessment

    The use of various diagnostic tests for Long COVID should be considered for patients with ongoing symptoms associated with Long COVID to assess for conditions that may respond to treatment, once basic testing such as complete blood count, basic metabolic profi...
    Learn More
    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.

    Learn More
    Diagnosing Allergies

    Serum Allergy Testing

    The serum allergy test is one type of allergy test that can be used to assist in the diagnosis and management of allergies. Through a simple blood test, analyzed in a laboratory, your doctor can uncover the amount of allergen-specific antibodies, called Immuno...
    Learn More
    Diagnosing H. pylori Infection

    H. pylori Infection.

    The Urea Breath Test (UBT) and the H. pylori Stool Antigen test are common tests used to accurately diagnose whether you have an H. pylori infection. Detecting H. pylori is essential in identifying the cause of your symptoms and/or ulcers in the absence of mor...
    Learn More
    COVID-19 Antibody Testing

    COVID-19 Antibody Blood Test

    Find out if you’ve had COVID-19 through an Antibody test.
    This blood test detects prior infection, even if you never experienced symptoms.
    Learn More
    Reaching a definitive diagnosis of hypertension

    24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

    Learn More
    Take the guesswork out of your diet

    IgG Food Sensitivity Testing

    Symptoms associated with food sensitivities develop slowly over time and can create inflammation and contribute to symptoms of a variety of diseases. The RMA FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test can help identify potential food sensitivities and t...
    Learn More
    Colorectal Cancer Screening

    Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)

    FIT is a safe and painless at-home cancer screening test. 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). W...
    Learn More
    Colorectal Cancer Screening

    Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)

    FIT is a safe and painless stool-based test used for screening people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer. FIT checks for the presence of occult blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of colorectal cancer and/or pre-cancerous lesions. When ...
    Learn More
    (Omega-3)

    Omega-3 Fatty Acid

    The Omega-3 Fatty Acid 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 hav...
    Learn More
    Helping Naturopathic Doctors Gain a Better View of the Health Status of their Patients

    Patient Assessment Panels

    Patient Assessment Panels enable you to provide your Naturopathic Doctor with a complete picture of your health. Now you can access the blood work required to make informed decisions on how to be your healthiest you!
    1. Convenient
    2. Comprehensive <...
    Learn More
    Personalized Risk Assessment of Prostate Cancer

    SelectMDx Testing

    Learning you have elevated PSA can be alarming news, but elevated PSA does not mean you have clinically significant disease and require a biopsy or treatment. SelectMDx is a novel decision support tool and provides your urologist with additional important info...
    Learn More
    Fecal Calprotectin Testing

    Differentiating Between
    IBS and IBD

    Canada has one of the highest incidence and prevalence rates of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the world. With symptoms of these two conditions appearing similar, Fecal Calprotectin testing can provide an accurate diagnosis in many ...
    Learn More
    QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus)

    QUANTIFERON-TB GOLD Plus (FOR TB SCREENING)

    QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is a simple blood test that aids in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes tuberculosis (TB). Like its predecessor, QFT-Plus is an interferon gamma release assay, commonly known as an IGRA, ...
    Learn More
    Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

    Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

    One in seven men in Canada will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The third leading cause of cancer death, when prostate cancer is detected early, the more likely it can be successfully treated.
    Learn More
    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.
    Learn More
    Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

    HPV Testing

    About 75% of sexually active women will get a least one HPV infection in their lifetime. With HPV the primary cause of cervical cancer, the HPV test detects the presence of high-risk HPV strain(s).
    Learn More
    Diagnosing Celiac Disease

    Celiac Disease

    Celiac disease can arise at any age creating damage to your intestines and starving your body of critical nutrients. With a range of symptoms commonly associated with other conditions, knowing if you are celiac, or simply have a gluten allergy or intolerance, ...
    Learn More
    Detecting Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Anti-CCP

    The daily pain, stiffness and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis can go undiagnosed for months causing permanent damage to your body. Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis at its earliest stages can prevent damage and improve long-term quality of life.
    Learn More
    Fertility Test

    Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)

    With one in six couples across Canada experiencing difficulty in becoming pregnant, AMH levels can provide valuable insight into predicting a response for IVF treatment.
    Learn More
    Vitamin Levels

    25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test

    Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus and is essential
    for proper growth and healthy teeth and bones throughout your life.
    Learn More

    General Diagnostic Tests

    View all tests

    Genetic Tests

    Learn More

    Naturopathic Tests

    Learn More

    LifeLabs Comes to You!

    Price

    $80 per person.

    Services offered

    Blood tests, ECG monitoring, Holter monitoring

    Locations

    Now serving all of Toronto and select areas in York, Peel and Halton regions.
    Check Service Availability and Request Your Appointment