To bring a medical discovery to market, the most critical step may be transferring it from an academic lab to a company that can sell it.

Dr. Sotirios Tsimikas, director of vascular medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, says he's developed a new blood test for cardiovascular disease that is approaching that juncture.

It measures the level of fatlike substances called lipids. Importantly, it measures the worst kind of "bad cholesterol," or LDL, called "oxidized LDL cholesterol."

The test is also intended to track the progress of changes in nutrition and lifestyle in lowering the risk of heart disease, Tsimikas said.

However, the blood test isn't yet available at hospitals and doctors' offices, Tsimikas said. That's because no company has yet taken the test through the lengthy and expensive clinical trial process to prove it's effective.

Work on the test began with research showing that these LDL and oxidized LDL lipids are harmful. Then researchers developed methods to measure these substances.

Tsimikas said he hopes the test will also be able to determine when patients have lowered their risk of heart disease. But it's not quite at that point yet.

"We do know the (lipid) levels change when you do a therapeutic intervention," Tsimikas said. "But we have not linked the change in the levels to a beneficial outcome yet."

The test is now being used in a study by Dr. Matthew Budoff of UCLA to measure the effectiveness of a form of garlic ---- kyolic aged garlic extract ---- in reducing coronary artery blockage in firefighters. For decades, studies have shown that garlic lowers blood lipids, in addition to lowering blood sugar.

Firefighters make good subjects for the test because they're regularly subjected to stress, as well as to noxious smoke, Tsimikas said.

With a couple more studies like the garlic one, Tsimikas said there should be enough evidence by the end of the year to get an idea of whether the test will be useful in measuring changes in risk.

And if all goes well, that's when prospective corporate partners will come calling.

Do you know of an entrepreneurial success story or bold beginning in North San Diego County or Southwest Riverside County? Contact Bradley J. Fikes at bfikes@nctimes.com or 760-739-6641.