These thrombotic tests build on Lab21's portfolio of diagnostics for personalised medicine, adding to tests for heart disease, liver disease, cystic fibrosis and Sids (sudden infant death syndrome)
A series of genetic tests which allow radical new approaches to the management of thrombotic disease, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), are now available from Lab21, a provider of health and environmental diagnostics.
The low cost tests involve a simple cheek swab, and can be used to predict a patient's genetic risk of developing DVT, or other thrombotic disease, together with improved management of those patients who have already presented with symptoms.
Approximately 10% of the population is genetically susceptible to DVT, which can be a significant risk during surgery.
Consequently a large number of patients suffer post-operative clotting problems which could be circumvented if this information was available.
Patients known to be at risk can be given pre-emptive treatment, such as low molecular weight heparin to try to avoid the occurrence of the disease.
However, patients for whom the risk is not known will not be able to benefit from such preventative measures.
This can increase their chance of developing complications as a result of DVT or post-surgical trauma.
A further problem for patients with thrombotic disease is that they are often treated with warfarin, a drug whose effective dose varies widely from patient to patient, and it can take a significant amount of time to adjust the dose to the correct level.
In many instances the early days following the onset of the disease can be a critical time for the patient making any means of rapidly identifying the correct dose hugely beneficial.
As part of its thrombotic management portfolio Lab21 also offers a further genetic test will allow doctors to pinpoint the exact dose required, ensuring quicker, more effective treatment.
Both these tests can be carried out on the same check swab sample and can be carried out at any point in time, even as part of a neonatal screening programme.
Berwyn Clarke, CSO of Lab21 said: "Although thrombotic disease is a manageable condition, complications can have a significant impact on the patient, increasing recovery time and the subsequent length of stay in hospital.
"Given the basic premise that prevention is always better than cure these new tests could be hugely beneficial.
"They are quick, painless, easy to do, and could help provide much improved patient care at a low cost".
Jerry Walker, CEO of Lab21 added: "Genetic testing has the potential to have a very positive impact on healthcare budgets - identifying patients genetically predisposed to the risk of thrombotic disease will not only mean less post surgical trauma for patients, but also result in less medical staff time in after care, fewer drugs and shorter hospital stays.
"Furthermore the routine availability of these tests could have a significant impact on the increasing problems associated with travel-related DVT".
