Atherotech Diagnostics Lab Announces Sponsorship Agreement with National Lipid Association

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aiming to boost advanced lipoprotein testing in lipid education and management, Atherotech Diagnostics Lab announces its Sponsorship Agreement with the National Lipid Association (NLA).

Atherotech’s agreement for 2011 will provide the NLA with a sponsorship grant and support for educational programs, clinical conferences and also includes membership on the Industry Council.

As a member of the NLA Industry Council, Atherotech upholds the educational mission of the NLA and contributes to the NLA’s goals of engaging its members in clinical lipidology. Atherotech will partner with the NLA to offer advanced lipid testing and inflammatory markers seminars at three upcoming meetings:

• Spring Clinical Lipid Update held March 11-13 at Hyatt Lost Pines in Austin, Texas
• NLA Annual Scientific Sessions held May 19-22 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in New York City
• Summer Clinical Update held August 26-28 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando

“We are pleased to see that Atherotech has placed emphasis on the educational objectives of the NLA for its members,” said Christopher Seymour, Executive Director of the National Lipid Association. “Atherotech clearly understands the value of enhancing the practice of clinical lipidology and the NLA greatly appreciates the support.”

The NLA is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary medical society of more than 3,000 members dedicated to enhancing lipid management in clinical practice and reducing mortalities associated with atherosclerotic disease. The association provides a comprehensive educational approach for the community of practitioners in the field of clinical lipidology, which embraces lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, cardiometabolic disorders and obesity.

Atherotech Chief Medical Officer Michael E. Cobble, M.D, an NLA fellow, recently started a dialogue on the NLA community website, www.lipid.org, in order to answer member questions regarding advanced lipid testing strategies.

Atherotech’s History

In 1999, a group of private investors acquired the assets of Birmingham-based Atherotech and the rights to a different kind of cholesterol test, called the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP Test), developed in the early 1990s by Dr. Jere Segrest of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Atherosclerosis Research Unit. Atherotech patented the advanced lipid profile and to date has performed more than 7.2 million VAP Tests. In 2009, Atherotech Diagnostics Lab expanded its testing panels to include more than a dozen cardiovascular and metabolic tests and its mission to include disease management.

Atherotech’s VAP Test

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 1 million people each year. Atherotech’s VAP Cholesterol Test for patients at risk for cardiovascular disease helps clinicians improve the detection, evaluation and treatment of heart disease.

The VAP Test is the only expanded lipid test that routinely reports directly measured LDL-C, which is included in the 22 reported cholesterol components — all at no additional cost. These components include Lp(a), apoB, apoA1, and the apoB/apoA1 ratio, making the VAP Test the only lipid profile that routinely reports all three lipid parameters — LDL, non-HDL and apoB — considered necessary by the American Diabetes Association and American College of Cardiology. The comprehensive lipid profile also identifies markers of metabolic syndrome, often associated with early diabetes.

The test is available nationwide and covered by most insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid. Forbes.com identified the VAP Test as one of “Ten Ways to Live Longer” and the Wall Street Journal recognized it as one of “Five Tests Worth Paying For.”

For information on the VAP Cholesterol Test, visit www.atherotech.com or call 877.901.8510. Connect with Atherotech at www.Twitter.com/Atherotech and www.Facebook.com/Atherotech.

About Atherotech Diagnostics Lab

Atherotech is a CLIA-certified clinical reference laboratory and cardiodiagnostic company focusing on cardiometabolic tests, including the company’s patented VAP Cholesterol Test, which reports the cholesterol content of all lipids, components and subclasses. The VAP Test is the first cholesterol profile to comply with updated National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III recommendations for direct LDL measurement, which is accurate with non-fasting samples. The VAP Test is available through national and regional diagnostic laboratories and is reimbursed by many of the largest private insurers as well as Medicare. For more information, visit www.atherotech.com.

Armada Medical MarketingMicki Sievwright, 303-623-1190 x240
[email protected]

Source: Armada Medical Marketing