Abbott Diabetes Care, a division of Abbott, has received 510(k) clearance from the US FDAto market its FreeStyle Connect blood glucose monitoring system in the point-of-care setting (hospitals and medical clinics).

According to a company release, FreeStyle Connect measures glucose levels using a very small blood sample size (0.3 micro litre), the smallest sample size required of any point-of-care blood glucose monitoring product on the market. It is the also the fastest point-of-care blood glucose monitoring system available, providing results within an average of 15 seconds. Further, results are not affected by many common substances such as aspirin, acetaminophen, gentisic acid, uric acid, vitamins, and many over-the-counter drugs. FreeStyle Connect is also designed to seamlessly interface with any open point-of-care data management system, claims the company release.

FreeStyle Connect uses a technology exclusive to all FreeStyle meters based on coulometric measurement. This unique, patented, electrochemical technology measures virtually all of the available glucose in the blood sample, making it ideal for measuring a small sample size. Coulometric technology has already been used by people with diabetes worldwide in more than two billion blood glucose tests using FreeStyle blood glucose strips.

Abbott Diabetes Care, based in Alameda, California, is a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing glucose monitoring systems designed to help patients better manage their diabetes.