Summary: Babson Diagnostics won a MedTech Breakthrough Award in the Best New Diagnostic Technology Solution category for its BetterWay blood testing solution.
Takeaways:
- BetterWay allows for blood testing in retail pharmacy settings using only a small amount of blood from a finger, making testing less invasive.
- The system utilizes a patented device to streamline pre-analytical steps, protecting sample quality while maintaining accuracy.
- Samples are analyzed at a specialized lab equipped with enhanced diagnostic technology, producing accurate results that clinicians and consumers can trust.
MedTech Breakthrough announced that Babson Diagnostics is the winner of the “Best New Diagnostic Technology Solution – Diagnostic” award, and was recognized for its BetterWay testing solution that is designed to make blood testing more accessible, convenient, and less invasive.
The MedTech Breakthrough Awards
MedTech Breakthrough Awards program recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global digital health and medical technology market. This year’s program attracted thousands of nominations from over 18 different countries throughout the world, the organization says.
The BetterWay Blood Test
Babson created a hybrid approach to blood testing that democratizes small-volume collection and centralizes analysis, according to the company. BetterWay enables medically accurate blood testing in more convenient settings, such as retail pharmacies, needing only a pea-sized amount of blood. BetterWay is less invasive than traditional blood testing because it uses an FDA-cleared device to enable non-phlebotomists to easily collect a high-quality sample from the tip of a finger.
“We are grateful that the groundbreaking diagnostic innovation we have developed and tested is being recognized by MedTech Breakthrough,” says David Stein, Babson’s CEO. “We intentionally designed BetterWay to deliver retail convenience with medical accuracy, creating a better patient experience that can inspire people to get the data and insights they need to power their healthcare journey.”
Further reading: Streamlined Blood Testing is Finding a Home at Retail Pharmacies
Once capillary blood samples are collected using the BD MiniDraw Capillary Blood Collection System and Babson Hand Warmer, the pharmacy team members place them into Babson’s patented sample preparation device, another key innovation in the BetterWay ecosystem. The device automates pre-analytical steps, including mixing and centrifugation, and maintains optimal temperature and light control to protect sample quality, according to the company.
Couriers transport samples to Babson’s CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory that was purpose-built to analyze capillary blood. The lab uses market-leading analyzers and the latest diagnostic technology to produce medically accurate results that clinicians and consumers can trust. BetterWay’s test menu was created specifically to support primary care and family medicine, offering commonly ordered tests for annual wellness exams, chronic condition management, and screenings.
“BetterWay is a true alternative to venipuncture without sacrificing the quality, economies of scale and the broad test menu of lab testing,” says Steve Johansson, managing director, MedTech Breakthrough. “Congratulations to Babson Diagnostics for taking home a well-deserved 2024 MedTech Breakthrough Award win.”
