In-Home Test for HbA1c Levels in Diabetics

A diabetes monitor is designed for in-home use by diabetics to obtain immediate glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c or A1C) levels. The device, called A1cNow, has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Studies have shown that A1C testing, previously performed only in a hospital laboratory or doctor's office, is widely underutilized, yet a 1% reduction in A1C can reduce the risk of complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease by as much as 35%, according to Metrika, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA, USA; www.a1cnow.com), which developed the test. The disposable pager-sized device provides quantitative A1C results in only eight minutes from a small drop of blood. A1C indicates the body's average glucose metabolism over the past two-to-three months, showing the results of long-term glucose control.

"A1cNow provides people living with diabetes an important new tool to proactively mange their diabetes along with their caregivers,” said Steven Edleman, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine (USA). "In addition, A1cNow allows for immediate and convenient access to this important measure of their diabetes control at home, while avoiding a visit to a laboratory, a painful puncture in the arm, and delays in obtaining the result.”




Related Links:
Metrika A1cNow