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CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE ACCU-CHEK
VOICEMATE TALKING BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITOR

by Ed Bryant

Includes photo of Ed Bryant.

DIABETES ACTION NETWORK
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
COLUMBIA, MO 65203

June 25, 2003

TO: Dr. Martin Madaus, President
Roche Diagnostics
Indianapolis, IN 46250

RE: Notes on the AccuChek VoiceMate

Dear Dr. Madaus:

My name is Ed Bryant, and I am president of the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind. Because reliable non-sighted insulin vial identification has been my concern for years, I was present at the August 1998 American Association of Diabetes Educators convention in Minneapolis, MN, where the AccuChek VoiceMate was first launched.

I believe the VoiceMate is the most advanced talking glucose monitor available at this time. I recommend it regularly. However, I have noticed certain difficulties, and, starting in 1998 (when my contact was Sara Underwood), endeavored to bring them to your firm's attention. I have never received a satisfactory reply to these queries.

I have concerns that need to be addressed. First, both diabetics and health care professionals have reported to me the VoiceMate sometimes gives an incorrect reading if the user doesn't put enough blood on the test strip. Unfortunately, the meter does not let the diabetic know there isn't enough blood. I reported this to you some time ago, and was told: "we hope to rectify this." But, the much older LifeScan One-Touch meters, mated with commercially-available talk boxes, do not have this problem. Why does the VoiceMate? It has been about 4-1/2 years and this unfortunate problem still exists.

Although the audiocassette explaining the VoiceMate and Comfort-Curve test strip is clear and well-done, there is ambiguity which should be corrected. I have provided detailed examples, but the situation has not been remedied. One example: the instructional tape does not discuss using the Softclix lancing device. We need some "user" instructions on this device.

On June 20, 2003, I conversed with Deb Edgecombe, your U.S. Products Manager, about the VoiceMate not telling users if there isn't enough blood on the comfort-curve test strip. She said this is the biggest complaint Roche receives about the glucose meter. She said your company is considering making some changes, but she could not or would not elaborate. I asked her if that meant it could take several years; she said, "Well, yes."

Dr. Madaus, I see no reason why Roche Diagnostics could not update the AccuChek VoiceMate so when there is not enough blood placed on the strip, the talking unit will let the user know. This could be a safety factor, and your company has been cognizant of it for years. Surely you, as president, can see that needed improvements are made.

I hope the above is helpful to you, and that changes can be made. I plan to publish this letter and Roche's response in Voice of the Diabetic (circulation over 322,000, copy enclosed), as readers are extremely interested in how the various blood glucose monitor manufacturers are working toward improving important diagnostic equipment such as the VoiceMate. The above problem should be easily corrected and I would like Voice readers to know of your intentions.

Best regards,

Ed Bryant, President
Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind

 

July 28, 2003

Mr. Ed Bryant
President, Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind
Columbia, MO 65203

RE: AccuChek Voicemate System
Letter of June 25, 2003

Dear Mr. Bryant:

Thank you for your passionate dedication to the person with diabetes who is visually,impaired. We respect and take your comments seriously. Roche Diagnostics is committed to meeting the needs of the visually impaired person with diabetes. With that in mind, a next generation AccuChek Voicemate is being planned.

Because we are in the early stages of development, please understand that we cannot commit to specific dates that the new system will be on the market, or specific features that might be included. With that said, we are aware of the inability of the current system to detect an insufficient sample and plan to address improvement opportunities in the next generation product.

With regard to your comment relative to the AccuChek Softclix Lancet Device, please be advised that your suggestion will be incorporated in our revised instructional materials that will be introduced by mid-year, 2004. In addition, Deb Edgecombe, our AccuChek Voicemate System representative, will contact you to discuss other changes to the instructional tape you have suggested.

Thank you again, Mr. Bryant, for your interest in AccuChek products. Your feedback is always welcome.

Kind regards,

William L. Lister
Senior Vice President and General Manager

From the Editor: I've been communicating with Deb Edgecombe from Roche, regarding the VoiceMate, as Roche has expressed interest in making improvements. The single biggest issue remains the "Not Enough Blood" problem--the user doesn't know for sure if enough blood was deposited on the Comfort Curve test strip by the time the meter beeps. I note Vice President Lister, who admits Roche has been aware of this problem for some time, did not commit to correcting it.

The AccuChek VoiceMate is a fine machine, capable of great accuracy--if enough blood is placed on the strip. It'll be a better machine, once they fix this problem. To compensate for the lack of a low blood warning, I recommend users hold the lanced finger to the test strip for two to three seconds after the beep sounds, as this should raise the odds enough blood will be deposited.

I've been working on this issue for some time; I'll keep you posted on any new developments.

Email: [email protected]
Posted: October 28, 2003