INVERNESS MEDICAL LAUNCHES NEW ANTICOAGULATION MONITORING DEVICE IN THE UK

New INR monitoring device may help patients receive anticoagulation services in primary care

Thursday 26 April, 2007 :  The newest and smallest point-of-care anticoagulation therapy monitoring device today became available to medical practitioners across the UK , as Inverness Medical announced the launch of the SmartCheck INR monitoring device.  The handheld device typically provides readings of blood clotting tendency in just 1 minute, allowing primary care practitioners to monitor patients at risk of developing potentially life-threatening blood clots without lengthy laboratory testing and hospital follow-up.  This quicker and smarter method of anticoagulation testing may support the migration of anticoagulation services from secondary to primary care. 

One million patients in the UK (including those being treated for atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis or genetic clotting disorders) are currently prescribed oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) such as warfarin to prevent the formation of harmful clots in the blood[1].  However, OAT requires constant monitoring and dose adjustments to avoid underdosing (increasing the risk of clotting) or overdosing (increasing the risk of severe bleeding).  Traditionally, INR readings (which test blood clotting tendency) have been gained via lengthy laboratory testing.  SmartCheck INR allows healthcare professionals to check quickly and accurately a patient’s blood clotting time by placing a tiny blood droplet (3μl), obtained in a simple finger prick process, onto a specially treated strip, which is then inserted into the Meter.  The INR reading is displayed digitally, typically within 1 minute.

Because the INR reading is obtained so rapidly, patients are able to receive the results while they wait.  This allows dosing adjustments to take place immediately, maximizing time spent within the target INR range¹.  The need for laboratory testing is eliminated, which makes anticoagulation management in primary care much easier[2].  “The transition of anticoagulation services from secondary to primary care is a major milestone in anticoagulation management, and the launch of SmartCheck INR is an important step towards this goal”, Eve Knight, Executive Director and Co-founder of Anticoagulation Europe, commented. 

She continued, “Patients have reported that long-term anticoagulation therapy has a negative impact on the ability to hold down a job, go on holiday, and even spend time with their family; the facilitation of locally-based services will free-up vital time to improve patient’s quality of life, and provide more choice and flexibility for patients, working in-line with the Government’s ‘Patient Choice’ initiative.  The speed in which SmartCheck INR delivers INR readings will also allow medical practitioners vital extra time to counsel patients, ensuring that patients understand their condition and how their treatment works, and thereby increasing compliance and lowering the risk of potentially harmful complications”.*    

Lynda Mullahy, clinical nurse specialist at the Leicestershire Anticoagulation Monitoring Service, was one of 5 nurses who participated in a six week trial to asses the efficacy of SmartCheck INR.   “Our pilot study details the successful management of anticoagulation patients in primary care using SmartCheck INR” she comments.  “Key advantages attributed to the device included ease of use, quick results, a lower risk of losing patients from follow-up appointments, and high patient satisfaction. The launch of the device is undoubtedly the way forward in anticoagulation management”.