FDA CLEARS ACCU-CHEK COMPACT™ SYSTEM FOR ALTERNATIVE SITE TESTING

Blood glucose system integrates no strip handling offering more convenience and greater flexibility for people with diabetes

Indianapolis, Indiana - August 27, 2002 - Roche Diagnostics, based in Indianapolis, Ind., announced today that the FDA has cleared its Accu-Chek Compact Blood Glucose Monitoring System for alternative site testing (AST), which means users can now draw blood samples from their fingertips, palms, forearms, upper arms, thighs or calves. The Accu-Chek Compact System already is recognized for its integrated features, such as a drum of 17 test strips that eliminates the need to handle individual strips.

"The addition of five new alternative site testing options for the Accu-Chek Compact System as well as for the Accu-Chek Active System shows how our organization is meeting the evolving needs of our customers," said Eric Pridemore of Roche Diagnostics, Accu-Chek Compact and Accu-Chek Active product manager." In addition to being known as 'The One with the Drum™, the Accu-Chek Compact System will now be known as one of the most convenient and flexible meters on the market."

Blood glucose readings taken from the palm, upper arm, forearm, thigh or calf are similar to readings taken from the fingertip during periods when blood glucose levels in the body are steady, according to a study conducted by Roche Diagnostics, the makers of Accu-Chek® products and services.


"Because some people find alternative site testing more comfortable, the Accu-Chek Compact System may encourage people to test more frequently. Frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels is important because more testing can lead to better disease management, which can prevent or delay the onset of complications," said Kurt Alexander, MD, who practices in Noblesville, Ind. "However, patients have to understand when forearm testing is and is not appropriate."

The study also showed that fingertip and forearm readings were not the same during periods when blood glucose levels were rapidly changing, especially during the two hours following meals. "I do not recommend alternative site testing during the two hour period after meals," Dr. Alexander advised. "I also recommend that patients whose forearm test results do not match the way they feel confirm those results by testing again using fingertip blood."

Because alternative sites have fewer capillaries than fingertips, blood from these sites can be more difficult to draw to the surface. The Accu-Chek® Softclix® Lancet Device comes with a new clear cap attachment enabling the device to draw blood from alternative sites.

Additional Benefits
The Accu-Chek Compact System features Automated Drum Technology, eliminating the need to handle strips because they are self-contained in 17-strip drums and dispensed automatically with the push of a button. The Accu-Chek Compact System is the only system available that offers Automated Drum Technology.

In addition, the Accu-Chek Compact System delivers results within 15 seconds and only requires a small sample of capillary blood. The Accu-Chek Compact System also provides precision dosing. The meter does not perform a test until the strip is properly dosed. This ensures that the patient does not receive an erroneous result due to an improperly dosed test strip. Other features, such as under-dosing detection and built-in strip quality control, help assure maximum safety and efficacy.

The Accu-Chek Compact System also features infrared data transfer capability, allowing patients to download data into Accu-Chek™ data management software, either on their personal computer or a handheld device such as a PDA. Data can then be transferred via modem to the patient's healthcare providers.

For more information about the Accu-Chek Compact System and alternative site testing, visit www.accu-chek.com or call Accu-ChekSM Customer Care at 1-800-858-8072. The Accu-Chek Compact System with AST will be available in pharmacies and drug stores nationwide at the end of August.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vitamins. Roche's products and services address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing well being and quality of life. Roche's Diagnostics Division, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics with a uniquely broad product portfolio, supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories worldwide. Roche Diagnostics Corporation, based in Indianapolis, is the North American headquarters for the diagnostics business of the company. Roche Diagnostics' website is located at www.roche-diagnostics.com.

Media note: For a copy of the white paper discussing the performance of the Accu-Chek Compact System with alternative site testing, please contact Catherine Narbone at Edelman Health at 312-233-1246 or at catherine.narbone@edelman.com.

ACCU-CHEK, ACCU-CHEK COMPACT, ACCU-CHEK ACTIVE, and SOFTCLIX are trademarks of a Member of the Roche Group. © 2002 Roche Diagnostics. All rights reserved.