Amira Cleared to Market Blood Glucose Testing System

The FDA granted market clearance to Amira Medical for the first blood glucose-monitoring system that eliminates painful fingersticks. The AtLast system's all-in-one meter and sampler design uses a disposable test strip to make it easy to obtain a small blood sample from the forearm, thigh or upper arm—areas which have fewer nerve endings and therefore are much less sensitive than fingertips.

Joel Douglas, chief technology officer and co-founder of Amira Medical explained, "by using microcomponents to integrate the optics, electronics, and strip design into a single product, the elimination of fingersticks became practical."

The AtLast System will be sold to consumers at prices comparable to meters and test strips already on the market and will be available in the second quarter of 1999.