Q: How is the
COLARIS AP®
test performed?
A:
The physician draws a small
amount of blood from the patient (or refers him
or her to a blood draw facility) and then sends
it to Myriad Genetic Laboratories for analysis
of the APC and MYH genes
via the process of gene
sequencing. COLARIS AP® also
evaluates for large rearrangements in the APC gene
that will not be identified by gene sequencing. |
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Q: How long
does it take to get the test results from a
patient's COLARIS AP® test?
A: You
will receive your patient's test results as soon
as four weeks from the testing date. |
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Q: Will a
patient's health insurance pay for the COLARIS
AP®
test?
A:
Most health insurance plans
pay for COLARIS AP®. Your patients can call the
Myriad Reimbursement Assistance Program (MRAP)
at 800-469-7423 for more details
about the reimbursement process. MRAP can also
assist patients with determining coverage
through their insurance companies. |
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Q: Can a
health insurance provider discriminate against
a patient based on his or her COLARIS
AP® test
results?
A:
A number of federal and state laws prohibit insurance discrimination to various degrees. The Health Insurance Portability Protection Act (HIPAA) recognizes genetic information as Protected Health Information (PHI) and specifies protection for the confidentiality of PHI. HIPAA also provides restrictions on health-related information in making coverage decisions and in setting premiums by group health insurers, although HIPAA does not provide such restrictions for non-group plans. HIPAA further states that genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis cannot be considered a pre-existing condition. In the federal government, executive departments and agencies are prohibited by executive order from using protected genetic information as a basis for employment decisions. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has interpreted the Americans with Disabilities act to provide some additional protections from the use of genetic information by employers. Many states have enacted additional protections against genetic discrimination in health insurance or employment or both. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is currently awaiting final approval in the US Senate, to complete broad protection of genetic information.
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Q: If a
patient has already been clinically diagnosed
with FAP or AFAP, what specifically
does a positive COLARIS
AP® result
indicate?
A:
People with an
APC mutation are at a greater risk
of developing a new cancer, even extracolonic
cancer following a prophylactic colectomy.
Knowing a patient's genetic status can help you
take steps to reduce this risk or detect
another potential cancer at an early, treatable
stage. Also, a patient's test results have
significant meaning to the health of his or her
family members, especially since FAP is
characterized by juvenile onset.
Additionally, sometimes patients who have been clinically diagnosed with FAP
or AFAP may actually have mutations in their MYH genes, leading to
a different condition, called MAP. If a patient has MAP rather than FAP/AFAP,
the risks to family members are different. Thus, genetic testing can be important
in distinguishing between MAP and FAP/AFAP in certain families. |
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