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Polymer Technology Systems Launches the BioScanner 2000(TM), The First Comprehensive In-Home Tester for Diabetes Patients

Calculator-Sized Device Runs Multiple Blood Tests for Managing Diabetes And Its Complications

Indianapolis, IN. Polymer Technology Systems, Inc., has introduced the BioScanner 2000(TM), the first comprehensive personal health monitor for people with diabetes. In addition to measuring blood glucose, the patented analyzer allows users to track their total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and ketone levels, eliminating special trips to the physician s office for cholesterol workups as well as separate urine ketone tests. Additional tests for triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and other variables are in various stages of development or FDA review.

The device s ability to measure multiple blood chemistries is unique among home testers, offering a one-stop solution to aid diabetes patients in managing their disease as well as its complications. The BioScanner 2000 is also a useful tool for physicians because test results are returned in approximately one minute, permitting immediate feedback while patients are in the doctor s office. The unit is roughly the size of a small calculator, utilizes different test strips for different tests, and permits one-step testing without a blood wipe.

"Most diabetes patients don t die of diabetes; they suffer from complications such as kidney disease and heart disease. Our goal is to help people maintain control by allowing them to monitor themselves easily at home," said Scott Housefield, President of Polymer Technology Systems. "By enabling diabetes patients to do their own blood cholesterol screening and overcoming the shortcomings of urine-based ketone tests, we are equipping them with the tools to manage their disease better than ever before."

Like a conventional glucose meter, the BioScanner 2000 operates by gauging the intensity of the color on a test strip and converting that color to a blood chemistry measurement. Instead of having one optical reader inside to do the work, however, the BioScanner 2000 has three, each with five different LEDs that can interpret different tests.

The user simply selects the test strip designed for the specific test, inserts a special postage stamp-sized calibration chip in a slot on the side of the analyzer, and pricks his or her finger. The chip tells the device which test it is performing, and the unit automatically displays the relevant results.

Because switching from one test to another requires nothing more than different test strips and calibration chips, the number of tests that can be performed with the BioScanner 2000 can be expanded without changing the testing unit -- a technological first for an in-home analyzer.

The four tests currently available have received FDA clearance for both consumer and professional use. The total cholesterol and HDL ("good") cholesterol tests are aimed at minimizing the risk of heart attack because individuals with diabetes are up to four times as likely to develop heart disease as the non-diabetic population. The ketone test is designed to detect a significant concentration of ketones that can lead to kidney damage, coma or diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal condition caused by low insulin levels or insufficient metabolization of glucose.

A fifth test for triglyceride levels has received FDA clearance for professional use and is awaiting review for consumer use.

The BioScanner 2000 allows users to apply blood to a test strip either before or after inserting it into the meter, making it easy to handle for those with dexterity problems. It calculates 10-test, 14-day or 30-day averages; stores up to 700 test results; and automatically shuts off after two minutes of idle time.

The BioScanner 2000 was introduced in Indianapolis in April and is currently being rolled out nationally. Select Wal-Mart stores will begin carrying the product in mid-June. The unit retails for $199.95. Test strips range from 55 cents to $2.75 per strip for current tests. For more information, call toll-free at 877-870-5610 or visit www.diabetes-testing.com on the Web.

Contact: Angi Taylor of S&S Public Relations Tel: 317-722-3500, ext. 25, angi@sspr.com, for Polymer Technology Systems, Inc

 

Angi Taylor of S&S Public Relations
Tel: 317-722-3500, ext. 25,
angi@sspr.com, for Polymer Technology Systems, Inc
 
E-mail: angi@sspr.com
Web site: http://www.diabetes-testing.com
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