Quest Diagnostics is on an aggressive drive to market its range of advanced tests for the detection of diabetes in India. The tests, certified by the National Glycosylated Haemoglobin Standardization Programme (NGHSP), are comparable to those reported in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) reference method.

With India having 44 million diabetics, Quest has made available HbA1c and Fructosamine tests. These tests are best indicators to screen pre-diabetes and look at levels to control the condition. However, in order to look at regular control and assess pre-diabetic cases, Quest is in the process of unveiling three tests. These are GlycoMark, Glycated Albumin and Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase-65 Antibody. The tests are currently being offered by Quest Diagnostics through their US lab. However, diabetologists have been recommending these tests with samples being sent to US for the assessing the glucose control. These tests are being offered for the first time in the country.

There is a need to educate the patients and the diabetologists on the need for these tests. In case of a diabetic, regular tests will help him prevent serious complications, Dr Palat K Menon, medical director, Quest Diagnostics India told Pharmabiz.

Out of every 100 diabetic cases diagnosed in the country, 33 are in the pre-diabetic category. Pre-diabetes is a condition where the blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type-2 diabetes. Progression from pre-diabetes to type-2 diabetes is inescapable if healthy lifestyle changes like diet, physical exercise, and maintaining healthy weight to control blood sugar levels are not observed. This is where our battery of tests will help prevent the dreaded disease that can eventually affect kidney, eyes and nerves apart from affecting the white blood cells causing lazy leukocyte syndrome resulting in slower control of infections, explained Dr. Menon.

GlycoMark is an intermediate-term monitoring of glycemic control in patients with type-1 or 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Glycated Albumin reveals intermediate glycemic control over one to two weeks. Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase-65 Antibody is recommended for juvenile diabetics. It is also useful in diagnosis of type-I diabetes and in assessing the risk of developing endocrine disorders like thyroiditis. Fructosamine is used for indicating the average of blood glucose levels, but over a shorter period of 2 to 3 weeks. Fructosamine is also useful for pregnancy cases where the hormonal changes cause greater short-term fluctuation in glucose concentrations.