This week is National Diabetes Week, a time to acknowledge how diabetes affects all aspects of a person’s life and the importance of receiving adequate care.
Monash Health Pathology have introduced new Point-of-Care analysers in the paediatric and young adult diabetes clinics at Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital, as well as at Berwick Healthcare and Leongatha Hospital.
The Afinion 2 Point-of-Care analyser provides fast and reliable on the spot HbA1c results for monitoring of diabetes.
HbA1c is formed as the result of glucose attached to haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. It gives an indication of an individual’s average blood glucose level over the last 2-3 months, a period which reflects the lifespan of the red blood cells. When the HbA1c level is high, it means more glucose is circulating in the body. Higher HbA1c level is associated with greater risk for diabetes complications.
The test uses only 1.5µl (approximately 1/10 of a drop) of whole blood from a finger prick. The Point-of-Care analyser then provides laboratory equivalent-quality HbA1c results in just three minutes!
The analyser is simple to operate. It has an integrated sample collection device that includes all the necessary reagents for a single analysis.
The tiny sample size and the compact structure of the analyser have improved the service we provide to our younger patients. The implementation of this rapid testing will reduce patient revisits, reduce anxiety felt by patients and families, and support improved health outcomes for patients with diabetes.
Approved by Karen Lowe.