Medway NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with Digostics to offer home oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) technology to all at-risk expectant mothers.
The initiative aims to transform the screening of local gestational diabetes by implementing GTT@home, which is a commercially available home-use OGTT.
The OGTT, a gold standard for diabetes detection, is typically conducted between weeks 24 and 28 of gestation.
GTT@home will provide expectant mothers with a test kit via post, including a new test device, finger prickers, a preformulated glucose drink, and instructions, enabling them to complete the OGTT remotely.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust Women’s Care medical director and Fetal Medicine consultant Ranjit Akolekar said: “GTT@home allows pregnant women to carry out the test at home, at a time that is convenient to them, meaning the test can be carried out without delay, treatment can be started earlier and managed if gestational diabetes is detected to help keep both mum and baby safe, and precious NHS staff and resources are freed up saving both time and money.”
Pilot programmes of GTT@home have shown improved accessibility, with all women being tested within their target window.
The partnership also includes collaborative research to improve gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening and management.
GTT@home inventor and Digostics founder and chief executive James Jackson said: “Because the test device analyses both blood samples immediately, the technology also eliminates the risk of sample degradation that can occur between sampling and laboratory analysis with clinic-based testing, leading to missed cases of GDM.”
Upon completion of the test, users can instantly transmit their data to their care team for review using near-field communication (NFC) technology through the GTT@home device and mobile application.
The GTT@home test is supported by extensively user-tested guidance, including simplified instructions, visual and audio cues, and video guides, among others.
Non-English language versions of the test kit and support media are also provided to ensure inclusivity.
