US company revives finger-prick blood testing years after Theranos scandal
Babson Diagnostics, an Austin-based company, has introduced a new type of "finger-prick" blood test to several pharmacies across the city. This innovative method, known as BetterWay blood testing, was launched this summer as an alternative to traditional venipuncture. The process involves a patient placing their hand on a warming device before a pharmacy technician pricks the patient's fingertip and collects a small amount of blood into a single small syringe.
A convenient and accessible method
Jim Ross, one of the early patients to try out this method at Lake Hills Pharmacy in Westlake, shared his experience. He found the convenience of being able to drop in for a test after his annual physical check-up particularly beneficial. Before an appointment, patients can choose from an online menu of 11 common blood tests such as cholesterol, kidney function, and blood count. They receive their results via text message within a day.
BetterWay is a cost-effective solution
BetterWay blood testing can be covered through insurance with a doctor referral. It's also available as an out-of-pocket purchase, with prices starting at around $15 for the individual test and going up to over $200 for a bundle of tests. Eric Olson, the founder and chief operating officer of Babson Diagnostics, believes this on-demand testing will appeal to health-conscious individuals who want to monitor their health regularly.
Olson's motivation behind this testing
Olson's primary motivation behind BetterWay was to remove barriers that often prevent patients from having routine blood work done. He stated, "We get to ask the questions — what would make blood testing more convenient, more accessible and be something that regular people are more likely to get done and stay on top of their health?" He believes this method can help overcome common obstacles such as fear of needles or difficulty in scheduling appointments for blood draws.
A departure from traditional methods
BetterWay's method is a departure from traditional blood testing in that it can be used by pharmacy technicians and all kinds of providers, not just blood draw specialists. This approach has been implemented in independent Austin pharmacies such as Lake Hills Pharmacy and People's Pharmacy, along with several H-E-B pharmacy locations. "It's something that becomes easy to fit into your life and more difficult to just skip," Olson said about the convenience of this new method.
BetterWay's approach differs from Theranos's failed method
BetterWay is one of many companies trying to make a mark in the blood testing market using small amounts of blood. However, its approach differs from that of Theranos, a company that faced legal consequences for false promises about its blood testing capabilities. Unlike Theranos, BetterWay uses an on-site device to prepare samples for testing but conducts the actual tests at the Babson Diagnostics lab using traditional laboratory analyzers made by Siemens Healthineers and other manufacturers.
