"It is the most accurate and easiest method to evaluate my female patients for elevated cholesterol as well as polycystic ovarian syndrome," Foley said. "It is particularly valuable when developing a treatment plan for women and also helps to monitor response to treatment."

September is PCOS Awareness Month and serves as a reminder for women to have a conversation with their health care provider about PCOS. The four major symptoms of PCOS are irregular periods, weight gain, high testosterone levels and metabolic disorders, including cholesterol problems.

Developed by Atherotech Diagnostics Lab (www.atherotech), the VAP Test plays a central role in the diagnosis of PCOS because, unlike the standard cholesterol test, it measures a range of cholesterol subclasses and can be administered without fasting. The VAP Test is widely covered by insurance, and results have shown a correlation between patients who have PCOS and low levels of HDL2, a highly protective subclass of high density lipoprotein (HDL).

Atherotech Diagnostics Lab has seen steadily increasing demand from gynecologists and endocrinologists for the VAP Cholesterol Test. The VAP Test is available nationwide and reports 22 separate components of blood compared to just four in the standard cholesterol test (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides) at no additional cost.

SOURCE Atherotech Diagnostics Lab