Expanded claim gives clinicians a streamlined solution that delivers fast, actionable results to identify patients at risk for diabetes
Tarrytown, N.Y., September 17, 2012 – The Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics DCA HbA1c test kit¹, already used to monitor diabetes patients’ HbA1c levels, has achieved the CE mark as an aid to diagnose diabetes and identify patients at risk for developing the disease. Available for use on the company’s DCA systems, including the DCA Vantage® Analyzer, the test kit now provides clinicians with a streamlined solution that delivers fast, actionable results for the diagnosis and management of diabetes in environments ranging from physicians offices to hospitals and clinics. More information about the DCA HbA1c test kit’s expanded claim will be available at Siemens booth #474B during the 48th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Berlin, German, October 1 – 5.
Diabetes currently affects more than 55 million people throughout Europe.² The benefits of using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing to measure average blood glucose levels in the management and treatment of patients with confirmed diabetes is well established. More recently, the medical community has recognized the clinical utility of HbA1c testing in the disease’s diagnosis. Notably, in 2009, several major diabetes associations, including the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), were part of an International Expert Committee that accepted the HbA1c test for diabetes diagnosis based on several advantages when compared with the traditional method of measuring blood glucose levels.³
Convenience was cited as a significant advantage of HbA1c testing since it can be conducted at any time and requires no preparation by the patient, unlike fasting plasma glucose (FPG) measurements, where fasting must occur at least eight hours prior to testing. Also, HbA1c testing only requires a single measurement as opposed to blood glucose testing that involves serial blood draws over several hours.
With the Siemens DCA HbA1c test, only a small (1 µL) whole blood finger stick sample is needed, enabling clinicians to identify at-risk patients within minutes, review test results and discuss early intervention and disease management options during the same office visit. By reducing the need for follow-up visits, in-office testing of HbA1c with the Siemens DCA HbA1c kit not only helps consolidate operations, but also contributes to improved patient care through a simple-to-use tool.
“When not diagnosed or managed properly, diabetes can have devastating health consequences,” said David Stein, Ph.D., CEO, Point of Care Business Unit, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. “Siemens is committed to equipping clinicians with a highly precise and accurate method to aid in diagnosing diabetes to help them intervene early in the management of at-risk patients.”
Diabetes should be diagnosed when HbA1c values are greater than or equal to 6.5 percent, per guidelines from the International Expert Committee. Also, according to the 2012 “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes,” the ADA reports that HbA1c values between 5.7 and 6.4 percent may identify individuals with high risk for future diabetes, a state that may be referred to as prediabetes.4
Since 1991, the Siemens DCA HbA1c test has been used for monitoring diabetes patients’ HbA1c levels, and its effectiveness is documented in over 140 publications. Siemens plans to make its dual-purpose DCA HbA1c test kit available in Europe for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes during the second quarter of 2013. This product demonstrates Siemens’ continued innovation leadership, a goal of the recently launched Siemens Agenda 2013 program. For more information about Siemens’ diabetes testing options, please visit: www.siemens.com/diabetes.
¹ Not all product offerings are available in all countries. Not available for sale in the U.S. Kit #: 10698915
² International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas Fifth Edition. Available at: http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/europe. Accessed 8/2/12.
³ Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes - DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 32, SUPPLEMENT 7, JULY 2009.
4 American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 2012;35(Suppl 1):S64–S71
Launched by Siemens Healthcare Sector in November 2011, Agenda 2013 program is a two-year global initiative to further strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness. Specific measures will be implemented in four fields of action: Innovation, Competitiveness, Regional Footprint, and People Development.
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2011 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.5 billion euros and profit of around 1.3 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.
Contact: Susan Drew
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