The Friday Rundown: A1c test while you watch Sunday football? You betcha!
Friday! Woo hoo! Hope everyone has an awesome weekend lined up. Mine will involve a birthday party, bike shopping, and hopefully a few other adventures to top of this so-far great week. And, if I wanted it to, this weekend could involve an A1c test in the comfort of my own home.
Yep, that’s right. Bayer has unveiled the newest and niftiest in A1c testing – a tiny, portable, affordable A1c tester. The A1c Now SELFCHECK is a small, glucose-meter like machine which can provide A1c results in just 5 minutes from a relatively small blood sample. Given that the ADA has recently elevated the A1c to the gold standard diagnostic tool, being able to test an A1c on the fly will not only allow patients to keep tabs on one of the most important numbers to their health, but healthcare providers now have a cheap, easy way to get this test done quickly in their office, without waiting for blood work. Having results instantly will give healthcare providers valuable information they can discuss right away with their patients, without asking for follow-up appointments to review blood tests.
Fast A1c results have been achievable before this with the advent of the DCA 2000 (which retails for around $2,000), but never has it been this inexpensive and transferable. Since the device is so small, it will be easy to transfer between offices and mobile clinics – a feature that helps combat rising healthcare costs because the device can be easily shared throughout the office and multiple exam rooms, unlike similar tools before it. And the price tag is pretty nice too: it retails for just $29.99 at CVS.com. Which means I can afford to party AND check my A1c this weekend. Probably not at the same time though….. just sayin’.
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Let’s party.