Babson Diagnostics Launches BetterWay Across Austin

BetterWay™ brings a true alternative to traditional blood testing with affordable, convenient, and accurate testing in retail pharmacies.

July 10, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Babson Diagnostics, a science-first healthcare technology company, is excited and proud to announce the launch of its groundbreaking blood testing service. BetterWay blood testing represents a significant advancement in an essential medical service, providing a patient-preferred experience and enabling high-quality testing in more convenient settings.

Blood testing is the best way to monitor and manage health and makes up 70% of a patient’s medical chart. In the U.S., 14 billion laboratory tests are ordered annually to diagnose and monitor critical medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, and infections. Yet 40% of people say they avoid doctor-recommended testing for many reasons, including affordability, fear of needles, discomfort, and inconvenience.

What is BetterWay?

BetterWay is a first-of-its-kind lab test that uses a small amount of blood—about the size of a pea—from a fingertip. BetterWay’s unique finger collection device, technology ecosystem, and state-of-the-art microsample lab eliminate the need for a phlebotomist, needles, and the vials of blood typically required for diagnostic lab testing.

Austin is the launching pad for BetterWay, which is now available at select locations including H-E-B Pharmacy, Peoples Rx and Lake Hills Pharmacy, where trained pharmacy staff collect samples and use automated technology to prepare and store them. Couriers transport the samples to Babson’s Austin-based, CLIA-certified lab, and medically accurate, easy-to-understand test results are available within a day or two.

“We’ve achieved something that many said could not be done,” said David Stein, Babson’s chief executive officer. “Our team has worked for years to completely reimagine blood testing to put the customer first. We said from day one that we want to be the blood test people don’t skip. With BetterWay, we are eliminating barriers and making it easier for consumers to get the blood tests they need both for preventative care and the management of chronic conditions.”

Key Benefits

• Convenient: Consumers can get tested at places where they already shop that have convenient retail hours in the evenings and on weekends. Babson's studies show a strong preference for the retail pharmacy location and pharmacy team members as collection techs.

• Accurate: Babson conducted 44 clinical studies involving nearly 1 million blood tests to ensure that BetterWay results are equivalent to traditional blood testing methods and can be used for clinical decision-making, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Patient-centered: BetterWay offers an extensive menu covering testing needed for annual wellness exams, chronic condition management, and screenings. Insurance is accepted for testing ordered by a clinician for medical care. Consumers can also order tests for themselves online, with pricing up to 50% less than other self-pay options.

• Less invasive: BetterWay’s unique collection device, developed in partnership with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), improves access for people who fear needles, have difficult veins, or faint when having blood drawn, a condition known as vasovagal syncope.

“We started Babson with a simple idea—to create blood testing that focuses on the most important element, the customer,” said Eric Olson, founder and chief operating officer. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished, but this is only the beginning of our journey. We look forward to bringing high-quality, affordable lab testing to more communities.”

Austin clinicians are already seeing the benefits of BetterWay for their patients and medical practices.

“BetterWay blood testing offers convenience and results patients and practitioners can rely on,” said Dr. Thomas Blevins, an endocrinologist at Texas Diabetes & Endocrinology in Austin. “Babson’s approach allows patients to get labs done in a timely manner at a location they know and trust, while giving us the actionable information we need to evaluate their health.”