FAQs

As you learn more about coronary artery disease (CAD), its symptoms, and how it’s diagnosed, you may have questions about the Corus® CAD test. The section below provides general information on a number of frequently asked questions regarding Corus CAD.


Q. What is Corus CAD?
A. Corus CAD is a convenient blood test that helps your healthcare provider safely assess whether or not you have a blockage in your heart, also known as obstructive* CAD.

Q. How is the Corus CAD test performed?
A. Similar to other laboratory tests, your physician must order the Corus CAD test for you. The test requires a small blood sample, which can be obtained on the same day as your initial appointment.  The sample will be shipped to the CardioDx Commercial Laboratory for analysis, and results will be sent to your healthcare provider within about 3 days of your blood being drawn.  Your healthcare provider will contact you to discuss the test result and help you understand what the information in your test report means.

Q. What does the Corus CAD test measure?
A. The Corus CAD test will analyze your blood and measure the activity, or gene expression, of 23 genes that have been found to indicate a blockage in the heart arteries as seen in the PREDICT clinical trial.1 The Corus CAD test result tells your healthcare provider what your likelihood is of having a blockage in your heart arteries based on the signals from these genes detected in your blood sample.

Q. How can the Corus CAD test help me?
A. After the Corus CAD test is performed, your healthcare provider will receive a Patient Report with your test score. The score, along with other clinical information about you, can help your healthcare provider assess your likelihood of having a blockage in your heart.

Q. Will my insurance cover the Corus CAD test?
A. Some insurance plans will pay for Corus CAD but others may not. Our Customer Service team can help you understand your insurance coverage, even before the test is performed. They can also answer any questions you may have about insurance, the cost of Corus CAD, and the CARE Patient Financial Assistance Program. You can call 1.866.941.4996 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to speak with a customer service representative. Click here for more information about insurance coverage.

Q. What is gene expression?
A. Gene expression is the term used to describe gene activity, or production of RNA (ribonucleic acid), in response to environmental factors. Gene expression occurs throughout a person’s life in all cells and tissues. Gene expression can change in response to disease and other conditions. By measuring gene expression changes, your healthcare provider can assess your current disease status. Gene expression tells you what’s happening in your body right now.

Corus CAD measures the gene expression of 23 genes in your blood found to change when a blockage in your heart arteries is present.1

Q. How reliable is the Corus CAD test?
A. The Corus CAD test has been developed and validated in a large clinical trial in the U.S. called PREDICT.1 PREDICT included 1,343 nondiabetic patients and results were published in October 2010 in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine.2

Every Corus CAD patient's blood sample is processed and analyzed in CardioDx’s CLIA3-certified 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).

  1. Rosenberg S, Elashoff M, Beineke P, et al. Multicenter validation of the diagnostic accuracy of a blood-based gene expression test for the assessment of obstructive coronary artery disease in nondiabetic patients.  Ann Intern Med. 2010;153:425-434.
  2. PREDICT trial. Clinical trial summary found at: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00500617.
  3. CLIA #05D1083624.