Atherotech Launches Internet Resource for Medical Professionals and Consumers.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

Atherotech, Inc., a leading cardiodiagnostic company and developer of the VAP(TM) (Vertical Auto Profile) Cholesterol Test, today announced the launch of its enhanced Web site. The new site, which can be reached via www.thevaptest.com or www.atherotech.com, will serve as a comprehensive resource on expanded cholesterol testing for medical professionals and consumers, along with media and other audiences.

The site provides clinicians and patients with information about the importance of expanded cholesterol testing in the early identification and treatment of heart disease -- the nation's No. 1 killer. Patients and physicians can evaluate online the differences between the VAP Test and routine cholesterol tests developed in the 1970s. In addition, physicians considering expanded cholesterol testing for their practices can access a variety of educational materials and enroll in the "A VAP for Everyone" program, an opportunity to evaluate the VAP Test in clinical practice. Information about insurance and reimbursement, as well as links to related Web sites, also are available on the site.

According to Roseanne Varner, president and chief executive officer of Atherotech, the Web site reflects the company's commitment to meeting physician and patient needs in a changing healthcare environment. "Medical professionals and consumers need an interactive source of reliable information available 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Varner said. "With more people turning to the Internet as a primary source of health information, it is important that the resources are in place for them to make informed decisions about their cholesterol testing options."

Other features of the site include a professional education program that allows clinicians to earn continuing medical education credits. An Internet pressroom where reporters can access articles and press releases also has been added. The new site also includes a graphics library and heart disease risk assessment survey, designed to evaluate an individual's heart disease risk.

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. The company's proprietary technology, the VAP Test, is the new standard of care in cholesterol risk assessment, providing physicians with detailed cholesterol information for improving diagnosis and developing patient-specific treatment plans. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.thevaptest.com or www.atherotech.com.