The RACGP has criticised a push for MBS-funded lipoprotein(a) testing to identify patients at elevated risk of heart disease, warning the proposal could be outdated within months due to impending updates to national guidelines.

The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) is currently considering whether to recommend new MBS items for so-called ‘sticky cholesterol’ tests in patients with a moderate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia is urging MSAC to fund the tests, suggesting they could help reclassify those with lipoprotein(a) — or Lp(a) — levels above 100nmol/L as high-risk.

Patients with family history of premature CVD or familial hypercholesterolaemia would also be eligible Lp(a) testing under the proposal (see details below).