FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, has announced agreements with Abbott (Ireland), i-SENS Inc (Korea) and Siemens Healthineers (Germany), to improve access to glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) testing for diabetes diagnosis and management by offering a special price for point-of-care test kits for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The announcement follows an open call for partners issued by FIND in September 2021 and sees prices aligning closely to the minimal target ranges as stipulated in the target product profile for a point-of-care cardiometabolic device.

HbA1c testing provides an average blood sugar reading over a 2–3-month period and is key to both diabetes diagnosis and long-term glycaemic monitoring. Access is limited in LMICs, with a review of 15 countries revealing HbA1c testing to be unavailable in two countries and requiring co-payment in 12 countries, with 90% of families requiring assistance with the cost. This situation is compounded by centralised testing models that often require people living in remote areas to travel to hospitals and referral facilities in major urban centres, many of whom are unable to do so.

Products covered through this announcement include Abbott Afinion, i-SENS A1Care and Siemens DCA Vantage. There are no minimum order quantities, with manufacturers offering different terms for variable test cartridge and analyser requirements.