Atherotech's VAP Cholesterol Test to be Featured in Myhealthlink's Innovative Corporate Wellness Program.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BW HealthWire)--May 9, 2002

Atherotech, Inc., a leading cardiodiagnostic company, today announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Myhealthlink to offer Atherotech's VAP(TM) (Vertical Auto Profile) Cholesterol Test in Myhealthlink's corporate on-site medical screening program. The VAP Test is a next-generation cholesterol test that identifies 90 percent of people at risk for heart disease -- double the detection rate of routine cholesterol tests.

The VAP Test will be a key element in Myhealthlink's program, which provides comprehensive health awareness and diagnostic testing to employees of participating organizations. The goals of the program are to identify health risks early, prevent illness, and give employees the information they need to lead healthier lives. Myhealthlink helps organizations control medical costs and improve productivity by keeping their employees healthy.

According to Roseanne Varner, president and chief executive officer of Atherotech, the partnership with Myhealthlink is a terrific opportunity for Atherotech to further its mission of improving the early identification and treatment of heart disease. "Many companies are realizing the growing importance of preventive care and have adopted wellness programs such as Myhealthlink in an effort to keep their employees healthy," Varner said. "The VAP Test plays an essential role by improving the identification of heart disease risk factors and directing patient-specific treatment."

According to Jim Banks, chief executive officer and president of Myhealthlink, the company is pleased to offer the VAP Test as part of its testing protocol. "Routine cholesterol tests are inadequate because many people who have cholesterol abnormalities or problems have 'normal' results," Banks said. "The sophisticated lipid subclass information provided by the VAP Test lets physicians find heart disease risk early and implement treatments to prevent the disease from developing. This saves lives and money -- everyone wins."

The VAP Test provides direct, detailed measurements of cholesterol, or lipid, subclasses that play important roles in the development of heart disease but are not measured by routine cholesterol tests. The test complies with updated National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, which call for improved patient identification and more aggressive treatment of heart disease. The test requires a small blood sample, which is sent to Atherotech's laboratory for processing. Results are returned to physicians via fax or e-mail within 72 hours. The price of the VAP Test is comparable to routine cholesterol tests and is reimbursed by Medicare and most insurers.

Myhealthlink is an Illinois-based provider of comprehensive, proactive health services designed to help employees and members of participating companies and organizations live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. For more information, please contact Jeff Butler at [phone].

Atherotech, a leading cardiodiagnostic company and specialty reference laboratory based in Birmingham, is dedicated to improving the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases that kill nearly 1 million people each year. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.atherotech.com.