MP and diabetes campaigner Keith Vaz visited Quotient Diagnostics in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey this month to collect a donation of four HbA1c analysers used to monitor diabetic patients.
Brian Hickey, chief executive of Quotient and Ramesh Patel, managing director of medical supplies company BHR, presented Vaz with the EKF Quo-Lab A1c analysers. Quotient is owned by AIM-listed EKF Diagnostics, a manufacturer of blood analysers, which is headquartered in Cardiff.
Silver Star, a charity set up by Vaz to promote awareness of diabetes, will use the analysers. The charity runs mobile units that carry out diabetes testing in towns and cities in the UK and will shortly be handing over a fourth unit to its Indian branch.
Vaz, who was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago, was given a tour of Quotient’s manufacturing plant by Hickey and met several members of staff.
Hickey said: ‘As a politician Mr Vaz understands the importance of finding ways to prevent the onset of diabetes and the associated conditions because of the strain diabetes-related illnesses put on the National Health Service.
‘Instead of testing diabetes patients’ glucose levels on a daily basis EKF’s HbA1c analysers are used just four times a year. This means patients need less testing and allows vital healthcare funds to be diverted into other areas.’
The EKF Quo-Lab analyser is designed and manufactured in Surrey and has been developed particularly for developing world markets. Since Quo-Lab’s launch in July, EKF has sold more than 250 devices to customers worldwide, including as far afield as India, Lebanon and the Philippines.
