New Glucose Meter Study Rates Nova Max® Meters Highest

March 6, 2012, Waltham, Ma. A recently published study evaluated the accuracy of 20 different blood glucose meters on samples with abnormal hematocrit levels. The study shows Nova Diabetes Care glucose meters, including Nova Max Plus and Nova Max Link, to be more accurate than other leading brands on samples that have abnormal hematocrit levels ranging from 25-60%.1 The study confirms findings of another study published in November 2011, showing Nova Max Plus to be the most accurate among five other glucose meter brands when testing blood with abnormally low levels of hematocrit.2

Abnormally low levels of hematocrit (medical term: anemia) occur in approximately 25% of people with diabetes and are a leading cause of inaccuracy for most glucose meters. 3,4,5 Most glucose meters assume blood samples have a normal level of hematocrit. If a person’s hematocrit is lower than normal (anemia), glucose readings can be erroneously high, increasing the risk of undetected hypoglycemia or mis-dosing of insulin. Two groups in particular frequently exhibit lower than normal adult hematocrit levels: children and the elderly. Low hematocrit levels are also associated with diabetes complicated by kidney disease, pregnancy, or heart disease.6

In this study presented at the February, 2012 Advanced Technologies and Treatment for Diabetes International Meeting, 20 glucose meters were evaluated for hematocrit interference. The comprehensive study incorporated blood samples ranging from 90 to 350 mg/dL glucose and hematocrit levels ranging from 25-60%. Only 7 glucose meters met the investigators criteria for satisfactory hematocrit performance. Four of the seven were glucose meters produced by Nova including Nova Max Plus, Nova Max Link, and Nova meters sold internationally under the brands Glucomen LX and GlucoFix Mio.

About Nova Diabetes Care

Nova Diabetes Care is the exclusive distributor of the Nova Max brand of consumer glucose meters and strips in the United States. Nova Diabetes Care is dedicated to improving lives of people with diabetes by providing advanced technology products along with 24 hour, best in class customer support. Nova Diabetes Care representatives are available throughout the U.S to provide Nova Max sample meters and educational materials for diabetes educators and other healthcare professionals, and educational programs for their patients. Nova Cares toll free customer service line is available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to answer questions and provide support concerning the use of Nova Max products Further information about Nova Diabetes Care and the Nova Max products can be found at www.novacares.com or by calling our toll-free customer service number 800-681-7390

  1. Ramljak S et al. Hematocrit Interference is a Common Phenomenon in Many Devices for Glucose Self-Measurement. Poster session presented at: 5th International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes; 2012 February 8-11; Barcelona, Spain.
  2. O’Kane M et al. How accurate are blood glucose meters used for patient self-testing? Poster session presented at: 47th Annual Meeting of the European Society for the Study of Diabetes; 2011 September 14th; Lisbon, Portugal.
  3. Tang Z et al. Effects of different hematocrit levels on glucose measurements with handheld meters for point-of-care testing. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2000; 124:1135-1140.
  4. Pidcoke H et al. Anemia Cause Hypoglycemia in intensive care unit patients in single channel glucometers: Methods of reducing patient risk. Crit Care Med 2010; 38(2):471-76.
  5. Thomas MC, et al. Unrecognized anemia in patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional survey. Diabetes Care. 2003 Apr 26(4):1164-69.
  6. http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/treatment-159153-5.html Accessed 1/23/12

Nova Max is a registered trademark of Nova Biomedical.

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