For Pancreatitis

Identifying the underlying biological causes of your patient’s pancreatitis symptoms can help direct therapy and guide medical management specific to the patient’s disease process. For example, genetic conditions such as hereditary pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis can both increase the risk of pancreatitis, but involve different treatments and clinical considerations. Early detection of the cause or causes of the disease process may prevent extensive diagnostic evaluations, delayed diagnosis and more severe end-stage disease.

For Pharmacogenomics

A person’s genetic variants can impact how they will respond to medications (pharmacogenomics, PGx). PGx data can help you identify patients who are more likely to respond to a medication or a specific medication dose. It can also help patients  avoid adverse drug events that are associated with specific genetic variants.

For Abnormal Lipid Metabolism

Abnormal lipid metabolism can increase an individual’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and pancreatitis. It is an established cause of pancreatitis, accounting for up to 10% of acute pancreatitis cases [1]. Variants in several genes can cause hereditary disorders of lipid metabolism or increase an individual’s risk for elevated triglycerides, a type of fat (lipid), in the blood. Genetic testing may be helpful in determining the underlying cause of a patient’s disease and provide clinical guidance for targeted treatment.

Ariel’s genetic analysis goes beyond genetics to incorporate genetic testing, patient medical and family history, patient biomarkers, and up-to-date management considerations to provide a comprehensive and actionable precision medicine report.

ArielDx Pancreatitis tests for predisposition to both Mendelian (monogenic) and complex (multifactorial) forms of disease. A minority of pancreatitis patients have a monogenic cause of disease. Therefore, testing for predisposing risk variants in addition to monogenic disease variants assures a complete picture of known genetic predisposition.

ArielDx Pancreatic Cancer analyzes genes associated with established risks for cancer and management guidelines. Larger gene panels for pancreatic cancer often contain low-evidence or low-penetrance genes for which there may be limited evidence for association with pancreatic cancer, undefined risk of pancreatic and other cancers, lack of clinically actionable findings and/or no medical management guidelines. The findings in these additional genes may be uninformative. Moreover, there is a higher likelihood of identifying a variant of uncertain significance which increases the risk of misinterpretation and patient mismanagement.  

Add-on panels, ArielDx Lipids and ArielDx PGx are an exceptional value at an affordable price. These panels offer additional insight to enable more targeted and personalized treatment plans.

Ariel is committed to a streamlined and convenient ordering and results disclosure process:

1. ArielDx^® Pancreatitis is a clinician-ordered test. To begin, create an account through the easy-to-use and secure Ariel online provider portal to place the order.
2. Once the order is placed, your patient will receive an email from Ariel inviting them to register online, sign test consent forms, access help resources, and complete their health profiles. 
3. A buccal swab kit will be mailed to your patient’s home. The patient will be provided with instructions to swab the inside of their cheek and return their DNA sample by mail.
4. Upon receipt of the DNA sample, completion of genetic testing and subsequent expert review of the findings, your patient’s test results will be released electronically through the secure Ariel portal. Clinicians and staff have a centralized area for managing different patient orders, requesting genetic counseling, and electronic release of results to patients.

The process for adding an ArielDx Lipids or an ArielDx PGx order to an existing or completed order is:

1. Log into your Ariel account.
2. Select the appropriate patient from you dashboard or Patient tab.
3. Once you are in the patient’s profile, select “Request Additional Analysis” on the right.
4. Check the box next to ArielDx PGx and select “continue”.
5. Authorize the order by checking the box and providing your signature. If you are submitting an order on behalf of an authorizing physician, his or her signature will be required before it can be processed.
   The authorizing provider will receive an email notification letting them know to complete this step.
6. Results will be released electronically to your Ariel account.

Ariel accepts all insurance plans. As a new provider, we are not considered an in-network provider with all insurance plans. While the organization continues to grow, Ariel will work towards establishing in-network status.

The Ariel team follows the process below:

1. When a physician orders ArielDx Pancreatitis the patient will receive a ‘Welcome’ email with a link to Ariel’s secure patient portal to register. During registration, they will be asked to provide their insurance information.
2. The Ariel team will contact the patient’s insurance to verify eligibility and benefits to assess potential costs for the patient. It is important to note that initial determinations from the patient’s insurance are subject to change, based on the patient’s clinical record and the discretion of the insurer.
3. Ariel’s billing team will contact the patient by phone to discuss benefits findings and the patient’s potential financial responsibility (i.e. co-pay, co-insurance, deductible). Ariel works with the patient’s insurance directly through the claims and appeals process. Our team will exhaust all efforts to obtain payment from the patient’s insurance plan to reduce or eliminate patient responsibility for the service. During the billing process, Ariel may ask the ordering provider to supply additional documentation to support the medical necessity of the service for your patient.

For add-on panels, Ariel offers a direct patient-pay price of $100 (per test) * to make testing more accessible for patients. Patients can choose to go through their insurance. However, the patient should be made aware that most insurance plans do not cover add-on tests, like ArielDx Lipids nor ArielDx PGx, and may result in out-of-pocket costs up to $1000. Patients will be prompted to select their payment method during the registration process.

Please note: Add-on testing cannot be completed until payment has been resolved.

*The patient-pay price cannot be offered after a claim has been submitted to the insurance.

Ariel is required by law to bill patients for applicable co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles, as directed by their individual insurance benefit plan. Ariel will partner with the patient to implement the most appropriate payback plan based on the individual’s financial need.

Depending on the patient’s insurance plan, there may be situations where Ariel is considered an out-of-network provider and the payment for our test will be sent to the patient directly. The patient is legally responsible for re-issuing that payment, with a copy of the Explanation of Benefits, to Ariel for processing.

Yes. Ariel offers genetic counseling services for patients through an independent third-party genetic counseling provider over video or phone. Pre-test genetic counseling through a third-party is complimentary with every test, which clinicians can request with every order. A request for post-test genetic counseling can be made through the Ariel provider portal. At that time, the patient’s contact information and test results are provided to a third-party genetic counseling service. This third party service will contact the patient to discuss cost and scheduling.

Ariel offers educational materials on pancreatitis, genetic testing, complex disease and other pertinent topics for clinicians and patients inside the portal. Patient counseling materials for use during informed consent discussions and test ordering are available.

Ariel also offers genetic counseling services for patients through an independent third-party genetic counseling provider over video or phone. Pre-test genetic counseling through a third party is included as an option with every test, which clinicians can request with every order. A request for post-test genetic counseling can be made through the Ariel provider portal. At that time, the patient’s contact information and test results are provided to a third-party genetic counseling service. This third-party service will contact the patient to discuss cost and scheduling.

Please tell your patient to expect an email from Ariel. Once you place an order in the secure portal, Ariel will send your patient a ‘Welcome’ email with a link to Ariel’s secure patient portal to register. The patient can then follow the instructions in their email to register in Ariel’s online portal, provide their insurance information and complete the informed consents and their patient profile. Once the requisite forms are compete, Ariel dispatches a DNA testing kit to the patient’s house. This kit also has all the necessary instructions for collecting the sample and shipping it back to Ariel.

For new patient orders, the turnaround time for the test is approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the time the patient sample is received in our laboratory.

For patients that have previously had Ariel testing, the turnaround time for add-on panel results is 2-3 weeks from the time Ariel receives the additional order.

You will receive an email notification letting you know when the report released to your Ariel account for review.