As you learn more about how coronary artery disease (CAD) is assessed, you may have questions about the Corus™ CAD test. The section below provides general information on a number of frequently asked questions.
Q. How is Corus CAD performed?
A. Similar to other laboratory tests, your physician must order Corus CAD for you. The test requires a simple blood draw procedure. The specialist drawing your blood will ship the blood sample to the CLIA1-licensed CardioDx Commercial Laboratory for analysis. The test result will then be promptly sent only to your ordering physician.
Q. How does the Corus CAD test work?
A. Your blood is analyzed to determine the expression levels, or activity, of 23 genes that have been demonstrated to indicate obstructive CAD in a clinical trial. The Corus CAD test result tells your physician the likelihood you have obstructive CAD based on the signals from these genes in your blood sample.
Q. How can the Corus CAD test help me?
A. After the Corus CAD test is performed, your physician will receive a Patient Report with your test score. The score can, along with other clinical information about you, help your physician assess your likelihood of having obstructive* CAD.
Q. Will my insurance cover the Corus CAD test?
A. Some insurance plans will pay for Corus CAD but others may not. Our Patient Advocates can help you understand your insurance coverage. They can also answer any questions you may have about insurance or the cost of Corus CAD. You may call 1.866.941.4995 or email reimbursement@cardiodx.com to contact our Patient Advocates.
Q. What is Gene Expression?
A. Gene expression is the term used to describe gene activity or production of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and proteins from DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in your body. Gene expression occurs throughout your life in all of your cells and tissues. Gene expression can change in response to disease and other conditions. Corus CAD measures specific RNA levels in your blood that change when obstructive CAD is present.
Q. How reliable is the Corus CAD test?
A. The Corus CAD test has been developed and validated using independent data sets from 1,795 patients enrolled in a nationwide, multi-center clinical study sponsored by CardioDx.2 This includes validation of the test results in an independent set of 526 patients to ensure that the results are reliable. Every Corus CAD patient's blood sample is processed and analyzed in the CLIA-licensed CardioDx Commercial Laboratory.
* Obstructive CAD is defined as at least one atherosclerotic plaque causing ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis in a major coronary artery (≥1.5 mm lumen diameter) as determined by invasive quantitative coronary angiography (QCA).
- CLIA #05D1083624.
- PREDICT trial. Clinical trial summary found at: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00500617.