Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition

Dental Tribune U.S. Edition | June 2012 D3 Advanced Laboratory Services, in collab- oration with a research team at the Univer- sity of Southern California, has developed a new test that can assist health care pro- fessionals in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of oral cancers. Advanced Laboratory’s saliva biomarker test measures three specific biomarkers that play a role in cancer development. As a monitoring tool, the test has the potential to be an essential part of every patient’s an- nual general-health or dental check-up. With monitoring of biomarker levels determined by the saliva biomarker test, cancer development in patients can be detected far earlier than previously pos- sible. On average, one person in the United Statesdieseveryhourfromoralcancer;but it’snotbecausethecancerisdifficulttodis- cover or diagnose. It’s because the cancer is often detected late in its development. One of the advantages of the saliva bio- marker test is that it does not rely on local- ization of a lesion to detect cancer, and can thus detect oral cancers at treatable stages. Health care professionals can utilize this test during multiple stages of diagnosis and treatment: • As a yearly screening tool: The test can be used as an annual screening to assess cancer risk-levels in patients 18 and older. • As a prognosis tool: Patients already diagnosed with oral cancer with higher biomarker levels tend to have poorer out- comes, and may require more aggressive treatment. • As a post-treatment monitoring tool: Thetestcanbeusedtoassesswhetherreoc- currenceislikelybeforeanewcancerlesion has developed. Advanced Laboratory’s test is a simple, noninvasive saliva test that can detect bio- markers across a range of cancers in the oralcavity,includingcancersofthetongue, floorofthemouth,cheeklining,gums,pal- ate,salivaryglandsandtissuesthatlinethe mouth and lips. Health care professionals interested in the effort to find and fight oral cancer can consider use of the test for patients with risk factors for oral cancer — including to- baccoandalcoholusersandthosewithper- sistent viral infections such as the human papilloma virus, or HPV. Patients who have been diagnosed but not yet treated for oral cancer, or who have undergone treatment for oral cancer can also take the test to help with prognosis or detect reoccurrence. Collection kits consist of a saliva collec- tion tube, instructions, refrigerator pack, requisition form and FedEx mailer. Collec- tion kits are provided to health care profes- sionals free of charge, with no upfront fees or set-up costs. The cost of the test, billed when the sample is received, is $179.99 for all three biomarker levels. Kits are shipped to Advanced Labora- tory Services’ lab in Pennsylvania. The lab is certified by the Clinical Laboratory Im- provement Amendments (CLIA) and COLA New saliva biomarker test helps detect oral cancer (formerly Commission on Laboratory Ac- creditation), and it is HIPAA compliant. To order collection kits or for additional information, you can send an e-mail to questions@advanced-lab.com. About Advanced Laboratory Services Advanced Laboratory Services Inc. is a state-of-the-art laboratory located just outside of Philadelphia, Pa. With both clini- cal and research divisions, the company is committed to developing and releasing new, cutting-edge laboratory tests to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment, including itsrecentlylaunched,exclusiveOralCancer Saliva Screening test. (Source: Advanced Laboratory Services) INDUStrY NEWS AD Oral-cancer test kit includes a saliva collection tube, instructions, refrigerator pack, requisition form and FedEx mailer. Photo/Provided by Advanced Labarotory Services Uses include yearly screenings, early detection, assessing prognosis and monitoring effects of smoking cessation on cancer risk