Reference Point
Welcome to CRL® and the
Reference Point newsletter
 
Greetings!
 
We hope 2010 is starting out successfully for you and your company. At CRL, we continue to work diligently to better assist you, your company and your clients. This issue of Reference Point features a sample of our ongoing endeavors to provide research, service, and technology options for the life insurance industry. Our focus is on giving our customers the greatest choice in their service experience.
 
Customer Service Based on Choice
 
Personalized customer service has always been a hallmark of CRL. Choice simply means meeting operational needs in whatever form preferred by our clients. We have invested heavily in technology to make our service more efficient and more effective, and we are committed to a personal customer service approach.

 CRL RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
research
So...just how many elevated HbA1c tests am I missing with my current fructosamine cut-off?
 
More attention is being paid by insurers to finding applicants with chronically elevated blood sugars. The reasons include the extra mortality associated with a HbA1c elevation of 6% or higher; and with increased obesity, 20% of applicants age 40 or higher may have a HbA1c at least that high.  In addition, the International Expert Committee has recently called for a HbA1c value of 6.5% or higher to be included as a diagnostic criterium for diabetes.
 
CRL recently changed fructosamine reagents and recalibrated its standards, so it was a good time for us to revisit how effectively fructosamine at various levels captures HbA1c elevations and how many HbA1c tests result. Fructosamine standardization varies by laboratory, but for any pair of values from different labs that reflex to the same percentage of HbA1c tests, sensitivity should be roughly equal as well.
 
Take a look at the bulletin on fructosamine and HbA1c. Tables 3 and 5 provide you with the percentage of various HbA1c values captured and the resultant cost in terms of number of HbA1c tests done. The impact of various blood sugar reflex points is discussed as well. Also available in the industry publications section below, is our earlier published article on mortality in applicants based on HbA1c level.
 
 INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS
publications
 
 
Copyright 2010 Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc.
CRL is a registered trademark of Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc. 
iHealth Savvy  is a service mark of Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc.
 
 
 
Clinical Reference Laboratory 
8433 Quivira Road  |  Lenexa, Kansas  |  1-800-445-6917
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In This Issue
CRL Research Highlights
Industry Publications
Service
Technology
Meetings & Conferences

SERVICE

"I felt compelled to express to you the wonderful customer service your representatives give to us. They are all very pleasant and efficient. It is a joy to call CRL for information or paperwork because all of your customer service representatives are great. Please pass our warmest appreciation to them."
T.M. Examination Managment Services, Inc.

HIV INFORMED CONSENT SERVICE
 
First Consulting & Admin
 
If you work in one of these areas:
  • Underwriting
  • Policy Issue
  • Compliance
  • Legal
  • Parameds
With the HIV Informed Consent Service from First Consulting & Administration you'll have the latest accurate information at your fingertips for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
 

TECHNOLOGY

 
iHealth Savvy
 
Lab results are made available online for the applicant to view and print. CRL can also mail a copy of the laboratory report to the applicant
 
        Click to learn more
MEETINGS & CONFERENCES
February 20th-23rd
 
March 18th
 
April 11th-14th
 
April 26th-28th