Women in the US can now test their blood sugar levels without having to draw blood with a needle. In January, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized sales of the Q-Pad Test, a kit that can be used to collect menstrual blood and store it on a small strip that is then sent by mail for analysis. The result arrives within 5 to 10 days. Dr. Sara Naseri had the idea for the test during her undergraduate studies at Stanford University, and it is produced by Qvin, a company she cofounded. In the trials that led to FDA approval, venous and menstrual blood showed similar levels of certain biomarkers and glycated hemoglobin, an indicator of diabetes (Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Medicine, 2019; BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2022; ScienceNews, April 16).
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