17 Research Drive Amherst, MA 01002 ~ 6 Hatfield St., Northampton, MA  01060 

P: (413) 549-8400 F: (413) 549-8409

What is it?

Boston Heart Diagnostics is a comprehensive lab panel that looks more in depth at various risk factors affecting your health. This panel includes: comprehensive lipid panel, absorption and production levels of cholesterol, inflammatory markers, metabolics (diabetes), genetics, fatty acids (fish oil), chemistry, liver function, kidney function, iron, vitamin D, thyroid, sex hormones, cortisol, B vitamins, Co-Q10, homocysteine, and complete blood count.

Blood Draw Protocol: Please fast at least 8 hours prior to the blood draw. You may have water, coffee, or tea (without cream or sugar The blood draw will take place outside. In the case of inclement weather, it will be inside. Please wear a mask for the blood draw. Do not come if you have any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, new muscle pain, new headache, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, vomiting, abdominal pain, new skin rash or lesions. Your temperature will be taken when you arrive.

 

Genetics are not covered

Effective 4/1/2020, Boston Heart will no longer bill any insurance for genetics. Any genes you would like tested will be payed out-of-pocket at the time of the blood draw. The first gene is $50 and each additional gene will be $25. Please bring a check or credit card with you the morning of the blood draw if you would like to pay for any genetic testing. Information about each gene can be found below.

Medicare: The entire panel is covered, except genetics. You may choose to pay out of pock for individual genes, in which case you will have to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice agreeing to pay for them.

Medicare + Supplemental: See “Medicare” section.

Medicare Advantage: See "Private insurance" section.

MassHealth/Partners: Entire panel covered, except genetics.

Private Insurance: Coverage varies depending on insurance, but genetics are not covered. You will get a bill from Boston Heart Diagnostics in about 3-6 months. You only need to pay $100 of your bill, Boston Heart will write off the rest. If your bill is less than $100, please pay the entire bill. If you have any questions regarding you bill, please call us at Atkinson Family Practice (413-549-8400.

If you get called by collections...this is a mistake from Boston Heart. Please call Atkinson Family Practice immediately (413-549-8400), and we will call Boston Heart to rectify the situation.

www.atkinsonfamilypractice.com

If you have already had genetic testing done through Boston Heart, there is no need to test it again. Your genes do not change. If you would like any genetic testing, please review the information below to determine which genes you would like tested. The cost is $50 for the first gene plus $25 for each additional gene. Please notify the office which genes you would like at least 3 days prior to your schedule blood draw.

This gene instructs our bodies how aggressively to respond to inflammatory stimuli such as infection, tissue injury, etc. The ApoE4 gene is the most primitive, and encodes for the most robust, strong inflammatory response. This E4 gene makes the carrier more prone to developing inflammatory diseases, including heart disease (atherosclerosis) and Alzheimer’s Disease. If you have ApoE4, Jessica teaches a group visit called “Preventing Alzheimer’s” which gives your preventative measures you can take.

This is the enzyme that turns your folate (vitamin B9) into the bioactive form called methylfolate. You need methylfolate in your body to be able to clear waste products and toxins. If you have reduced function of this gene, your body might not be detoxifying waste products as well as you wish it would. Variants in this gene can be implicated in a wide variety of symptoms.

A part of the clotting cascade, people with variants in this gene are more prone to getting blood clots than those without variants.

Provides information about how a you will process statin medications (a class of cholesterol meds)

This is one of the liver enzymes that is involved in phase I detoxification. This particular enzyme processes several medications including Coumadin (warfarin) and Plavix (clodiprogrel If you take any of the following medications, you may consider having this gene tested.

Amitriptyline ~ Carisoprodol ~ Chloramphenicol ~ Citalopram ~ Clomipramine ~ Clopidogrel ~ Cyclophosphamide ~ Diazepam→Nor

Esomeprazole ~ Hexobarbital ~ Imipramine N-DeME ~ Indomethacin ~ Labetalol ~ Lansoprazole ~ Moclobemide ~ Nelfinavir

Nilutamide ~ Omeprazole ~ Pantoprazole ~ Phenobarbitone ~ Phenytoin(O) ~ Primidone ~ Progesterone ~ Proguanil

Propranolol ~ R-mephobarbital ~ R-warfarin→8-OH ~ S-mephenytoin ~ Teniposide ~ Voriconazol

(Source: Indiana University, Flockhart Table)

www.atkinsonfamilypractice.com

17 Research Dr., Amherst, MA 01002 ~ 6 Hatfield Street Northampton, MA 01060

P: (413) 549-8400  F: (413) 549-8409

 

 

www.atkinsonfamilypractice.com