A Rich History of Prevention

It seems hard to imagine, but it hasn't been that long since the critical role of cholesterol and other lipids in the development of heart disease was in its infancy. The year was 1988 and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) had just issued its first set of guidelines recommending regular cholesterol testing for all adults. Fortunately Cholestech Corporation was born that very same year and just two years later received FDA clearance to market the Cholestech LDX^® System.

The Cholestech LDX brought the power of lab-quality results to the point-of-care setting, greatly facilitating NCEP compliance and easing the operational logistics of regular lipid and liver enzymes testing for both healthcare professionals and patients. Over the years the Cholestech LDX has continued to evolve by adding new tests to improve the convenience of cardiovascular and diabetes testing. As a result, the Cholestech LDX has found a permanent home in physician offices, pharmacies and with health promotion and health screening professionals around the world.

In 2002 Cholestech launched the Cholestech GDX™ System providing fast and accurate monitoring of A1C levels - an important test for monitoring the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients. The connection between diabetes and heart disease makes the Cholestech GDX a valuable addition to Cholestech point-of-care testing solutions.

A Company On the Move

Much has changed since the initial launch of the Cholestech LDX System. In addition to the launch of the Cholestech GDX, the company continues to expand the power and value of the Cholestech LDX. Over the past several years the test menu has grown to include tests such as ALT and AST for liver monitoring, and hs-CRP, an emerging marker for inflammation. And the Cholestech LDX lipid profile and glucose test is perfectly suited to assist in identifying those at risk of metabolic syndrome - a precursor to coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

All of these developments have led to rapid company growth. Cholestech now has over 25,000 customers around the world. Those customers are served by Cholestech's 220 Associates - all dedicated to superior product quality, unmatched customer service, the success of our distributor partners and health care professionals, in order to ultimately improve the quality of life of those served by our products.

But the company isn't stopping here. Cholestech is always looking for new and innovative methods and technologies that will help health care professionals with early disease detection and prevention. In fact, we are currently pursuing new technologies to assist in the measurement of Complete Blood Counts (CBCs).