Fingertip Screen Using POCT HbAlc Analyzer at Community Pharmacies Is Effective for Early Recognition of Diabetes
Yahagi, N.
Rinsho Byori. Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology 64(5): 564-566
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1860 PMID: 30695369 Document Number: 686992
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are highly prevalent in Japan, affecting nearly 25% of the population. Recent advances in the development of POCT analyzers now enable us to screen for undiagnosed diabetes using easy fingertip self-testing of blood hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in such public places as community phar- macies. Using this method in 20 pharmacies in Adachi Ward, Tokyo and in Tokushima Prefecture, we screened more than 4,700 people who were not under treatment at hospital in our study, named "Diabetes Screening Revolution." As a result, we identified more than 500 (app. 11%) diabetic and 670 (app. 14%) prediabetic people who were not under treatment. This result demonstrates that fingertip screening using the POCT HbAlc analyzer at pharmacies is effective for the early recognition of diabetes and prediabetes. Moreover, in response to our research results, Japan's government has revised the legislation governing la- boratory medical technologists to allow fingertip self-testing in such public places as community pharmacies, with such a site being referred to as a "Specimen measurement office" in the new legal system. Collectively, we established a new scheme of self-screening for diabetes in Japan. [Review].