Clemson students develop cheaper way to produce diabetes test strips

[TexasTowelie]

GREENVILLE, SC — Bioengineering students at Clemson University have come up with a new way for diabetics to test blood sugar that officials say could make the process much less expensive here and in poorer countries.

Using parts they found in electronics stores, the students developed new test strips and a glucose meter that function like conventional equipment to measure the glucose level in a drop of blood so diabetics know when to take insulin.

But the students designed an inkjet printer to shoot enzymes instead of ink so that strips can be produced for about 1 cent each compared to commercial strips which cost many times more, some as much as $1 each, officials said.

The students came up with the idea while working on a larger project to improve conditions for people in Tanzania. In addition to the diabetes equipment, they have introduced a low-cost infant warmer as well as affordable grass-woven neck braces, officials said.

More at http://www.thestate.com/2014/03/14/3324678/clemson-students-develop-cheaper.html .

[djean111]

1. Fantastic.

Just think what those strips would mean to reducing Medicare costs!

[TexasTowelie]

2. Most definitely.

Most doctors advise testing before each meal and at bedtime. I'm currently receiving my test strips at a discount; otherwise, if I tested as frequently as I should it would run between $120-$150 per month.

[djean111]

3. Wow! I had no idea!

No wonder I see ads on Craigslist and other places asking for unused test strips.
Hope this makes it to the consumer; looks like a profit disruptor.
Or maybe be made available overseas but not here.

[2pooped2pop]

5. and even with insurance, they do not cover the amount you actually need

even for children. Yep about a buck each. They used to be covered in full several years back.

[Kelvin Mace]

4. Clemson will sell the patent to the Medical Industrial Complex

and build a bigger football stadium.

The patent will then disappear in order to protect profits.

Cynical you say?

Why yes, yes I am.

[tanyev]

6. Nice. Except the manufacturers of test strips will probably start producing them that way,

and then turn around and sell them for the Much Cheaper! price of .90 cents per strip. Ka-ching.