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Alternate Site Testing an Asset to Study and Patient Care HAYWARD, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Stanford Prevention Research Center of the Stanford University School of Medicine and the San Mateo Medical Center in San Mateo, CA, have confirmed the benefits of alternate site cholesterol and glucose screening, counseling and patient health care management in improving the treatment and prognosis of cardiac patients. The findings are an outcome of the first phase of a four-year study utilizing the Cholestech LDX(R) and GDX(TM) testing systems from Cholestech Corporation (NASDAQ:CTEC), the nation's leading provider of alternate site health management solutions for chronic disease. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060504/NYTH042 ) The "Heart to Heart" study is a randomized clinical trial to test the impact of typical primary care versus case-management care consisting of individualized treatment and counseling for cardiac patients. Approximately 400 high-risk cardiac patients without private health insurance and consisting of a mix of ethnicities were divided into two equal groups. All patients were initially screened with the Cholestech LDX and GDX alternate site testing systems at baseline and at 15 months, which is the completion of the first phase of the study. The case management patients received approximately three additional Cholestech LDX screenings during that time frame. The Cholestech LDX and GDX instruments screen for lipids and glucose, using blood samples obtained with simple fingersticks. Certified lab-accurate results are produced within minutes. Control group members received their usual primary care and no supplemental counseling. The case management group received typical primary care in addition to one-on-one counseling with nurses and dieticians that consisted of goal-setting for risk reduction, lifestyle and medication adherence, and medication management. Case manager contact for each patient during the first 15 months of the study totaled 14 hours. Said Linda Kleiman, ANP and lead case manager for the Heart to Heart Study, "The Cholestech LDX and GDX systems proved to be invaluable tools for our clinicians during the course of the project. These systems are easy to use and provide lab-accurate results within minutes. The results can be reviewed with patients during office visits and changes in medical management can be easily made on the spot, without having to wait for lab samples to be drawn and processed. In addition, the machines are incredibly durable and reliable and are easily transported. We had a highly positive experience using these two alternate site testing systems during the Heart to Heart project." At 15 months, the case management group was moved into a maintenance program and the control group was moved into case management care. At that time, the LDL (low-density lipoprotein) for case management patients fell an average of 10.2 points and triglycerides fell 5.5 points. The average systolic blood pressure fell from 132 to 127 and the average risk of heart attack dropped from 17.6 to 16.7, as measured by the Framingham Risk computation system. No significant changes in body mass index and A1C were reported. "These studies are important because their results support the value of alternate site testing in improving patient compliance and, ultimately, overall health," said Warren E. Pinckert II, President and CEO of Cholestech. Practitioners also benefit as well from the LDX and GDX systems. "In addition to providing patients with immediate and individualized counseling, the instruments allow health care providers to eliminate the outsourcing of blood samples to external labs, increasing efficiency and lowering overhead costs." About Cholestech LDX and GDX The Cholestech LDX System provides a complete lipid profile with lab-accurate results in less than five minutes. The LDX is CLIA-waived and certified to the Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN) standard established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for total and HDL cholesterol. The LDX provides a complete lipid profile that includes total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, LDL, non-HDL, total cholesterol/HDL ratio; glucose; Alt-AST liver enzymes; and hs-CRP, high sensitivity C-reactive protein. The Cholestech GDX System measures the average blood glucose level by reading the concentration of A1C within red blood cells. A1C levels are important in diabetes management as they indicate blood sugar control over a period of two to three months, which is the approximate life span of red blood cells. (A1C is also known as glycohemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin or glycosylated hemoglobin.) Since A1C levels are not subject to the fluctuations that are seen in daily blood glucose monitoring, the American Diabetes Association recommends A1C as the best test to determine if a patient's blood sugar is under control over time. The GDX provides laboratory-accurate, National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP)-certified quantitative A1C results. About Cholestech Cholestech is committed to enabling people to lead longer, healthier and more active lives. Cholestech provides easy to use, accessible diagnostic tools and information to health care practitioners in over 35 countries around the world. Cholestech offers efficient and economic diagnostic testing for cholesterol and related lipids, blood glucose and glycemic control, and liver enzymes at the point of care. Health care providers can use the CLIA-waived Cholestech LDX(R) and GDX(TM)* Systems and the hs-CRP test, which is cleared by the FDA for use in moderate complexity labs, to initiate and monitor the progress of patient therapy. By providing effective disease management solutions, Cholestech's goal is to be a leading provider of diagnostic tools and information for immediate risk assessment and therapeutic monitoring of heart disease, inflammatory disorders and diabetes. *The GDX system is 510(k) cleared for prescription home use and, accordingly, is CLIA waived. Cholestech LDX is a registered trademark and Cholestech GDX is a trademark of Cholestech Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Cholestech and its products visit us on the Web at http://www.cholestech.com/ . CTEC-G Contact: Heather Battaglia HLD/Blankman Public Relations 516-536-6811 SOURCE Cholestech Corporation http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060504/NYTH042 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ CONTACT: Heather Battaglia of HLD/Blankman Public Relations, +1-516-536-6811, or , for Cholestech Web site: http://www.cholestech.com/

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