Abbott Diabetes Care announced the launch of the new Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strip for use with the Precision Xtra Advanced Diabetes Management System. The new, biosensor test strip with TrueMeasure technology is designed to provide people with diabetes blood glucose readings that are clinically accurate, timely and reliable. The new test strip requires 40 per cent less blood than the current Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strip, and produces results in just 10 seconds.

"Clinically accurate, fast results are essential for people with diabetes, and it is our goal to deliver products that fulfill this need," said Ed Fiorentino, president, Abbott Diabetes Care. "The Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strip gives people with diabetes access to advanced technology that can ultimately help them to better manage their condition."

The new Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strip provides people with diabetes clinically accurate results. In addition, users can apply blood to either the top or the end of the strip, making the strips easy to handle and blood application simple.

Additionally, the strip has been designed with unique TrueMeasure technology to ensure reliable, glucose-specific results. With TrueMeasure technology, the strip has an innovative fill-trigger mechanism designed to prevent the test from starting until enough blood had been applied to the strip. This feature presents both clinical and economic advantages. An inadequate blood sample often leads to an inaccurate reading, potentially complicating patient treatment.

Furthermore, because the strip allows users to re-apply blood if an inadequate sample is first applied, it helps avoid strip wastage - a common problem that is both inconvenient and costly to the average user. TrueMeasure technology also provides the added benefit of minimizing the effects of interfering substances such as aspirin, uric acid, vitamin C and acetaminophen that can impact blood glucose readings.

The new Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strip will be available this month.

Abbott Diabetes Care, the newly combined business of Abbott's MediSense business and TheraSense Inc., is a leader in the development of products designed to help patients better manage their diabetes. Based in Alameda, California, Abbott Diabetes Care designs, develops and manufactures several leading-edge glucose monitoring systems and test strips for use in both home and hospital settings. Among its leading MediSense and TheraSense brands are Precision Xtra, Precision PCx, FreeStyle and FreeStyle Flash.