Summary: Babson Diagnostics has launched BetterWay, a new blood testing service that uses a small fingertip sample for enhanced convenience, accuracy, and patient experience.

Takeaways:

  • Convenience and Accessibility: BetterWay allows patients to get blood tests at retail pharmacies with extended hours, eliminating the need for traditional phlebotomy and making it easier for people to access necessary tests.
  • Accuracy and Reliability: Extensive clinical studies ensure that BetterWay’s results are as reliable as traditional methods, supporting accurate clinical decision-making and treatment.
  • Patient-Centered Approach: BetterWay reduces the invasiveness of blood testing, particularly benefiting those who fear needles or have difficult veins, and offers affordable pricing options, including insurance coverage for clinician-ordered tests.

Healthcare technology company Babson Diagnostics announced the launch of its new blood testing service, which is designed to provide a patient-preferred experience and enable high-quality testing in more convenient settings, the company says.

What is BetterWay?

BetterWay is a lab test that uses a small amount of blood—about the size of a pea—from a fingertip. BetterWay’s finger collection device, technology ecosystem, and microsample lab are designed to eliminate the need for a phlebotomist, needles, and the vials of blood typically required for diagnostic lab testing.

“We’ve achieved something that many said could not be done,” says David Stein, Babson’s chief executive officer. “Our team has worked for years to completely reimagine blood testing to put the customer first. We said from day one that we want to be the blood test people don’t skip. With BetterWay, we are eliminating barriers and making it easier for consumers to get the blood tests they need both for preventative care and the management of chronic conditions.”

Initial Launch Strategy

Austin is the launching pad for BetterWay, which is now available at select locations including H-E-B Pharmacy, Peoples Rx, and Lake Hills Pharmacy, where trained pharmacy staff collect samples and use automated technology to prepare and store them. Couriers transport the samples to Babson’s Austin-based, CLIA-certified lab, and medically accurate, test results are available within a day or two.

Further reading: Babson Diagnostics’ Hand-Warming Device Supports Collection of Capillary Blood Samples

Some key benefits of the service according to Babson Diagnostics include:

  • Convenient: Consumers can get tested at places where they already shop that have convenient retail hours in the evenings and on weekends. Babson’s studies show a strong preference for the retail pharmacy location and pharmacy team members as collection techs.
  • Accurate: Babson conducted 44 clinical studies involving nearly 1 million blood tests to ensure that BetterWay results are equivalent to traditional blood testing methods and can be used for clinical decision-making, diagnosis, and treatment.
  • Patient-centered: BetterWay offers an extensive menu covering testing needed for annual wellness exams, chronic condition management, and screenings. Insurance is accepted for testing ordered by a clinician for medical care. Consumers can also order tests for themselves online, with pricing up to 50% less than other self-pay options.
  • Less invasive: BetterWay’s unique collection device, developed in partnership with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), improves access for people who fear needles, have difficult veins, or faint when having blood drawn, a condition known as vasovagal syncope.

“We started Babson with a simple idea—to create blood testing that focuses on the most important element, the customer,” said Eric Olson, founder and chief operating officer. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished, but this is only the beginning of our journey. We look forward to bringing high-quality, affordable lab testing to more communities.”

Austin clinicians are already seeing the benefits of BetterWay for their patients and medical practices.

“BetterWay blood testing offers convenience and results patients and practitioners can rely on,” says Thomas Blevins, MD, an endocrinologist at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology in Austin. “Babson’s approach allows patients to get labs done in a timely manner at a location they know and trust, while giving us the actionable information we need to evaluate their health.”

Babson plans to partner with additional medical practices and bring BetterWay to more retail pharmacies across Austin and San Antonio by the end of the year.