Simple Blood Test Monitors Compliance of Diabetic Patients

A simple blood test that checks whether diabetes is under control is now available. The point-of-care test will enable physician to get results rapidly without the patient fasting.

The percentage of glycosalated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the blood can now be measured with a hand held device that will give results in about three minutes. This will help physicians track a diabetic patient's glycemic control over the prior six to twelve week period.

The test, called the Avie A1c test, is an addition to HemoCue systems offered by Quest Diagnostics, (Quest Diagnostics Inc., Madison, NJ, USA) who have reached an agreement with MEC Dynamics (MEC Dynamics Corp, Santa Clara , CA, USA), to distribute it in the U.S. A. and Europe. The test is a more accurate way of testing diabetic patients' compliance with the treatment regime as HbA1c changes very slowly over a 10-12 week period, while glucose levels can vary daily.

HemoCue, with the addition of the Avie A1c test, will be able to offer a more complete suite of point-of-care (POC) tests for efficient diabetes management. Physicians can test for and diagnose the disease using the HemoCue Glucose 201 systems. They can monitor for diabetes-related complications with the HemoCue Albumin 201 test for microalbuminuria, a kidney and cardiovascular disease risk marker.

Jon R. Cohen, M.D., senior V.P. and chief medical officer at Quest Diagnostics said, "Having quality values at the point of care creates an opportunity for a physician to ask questions, discuss patient lifestyle, review medication history, and adjust treatment course as appropriate."

Diabetes is characterized by glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia. The latter represents a high level of glucose in the blood, which, if not properly monitored and managed, can lead to serious complications such as renal and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2006, and it is estimated that about 8% of the U.S. and 7.8% European populations suffer from the disease.

Related Links:
Quest Diagnostics Inc.
MEC Dynamics Corp