WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Twenty H-E-B stores in south and central Texas have been tabbed as pilot sites for the PreVu Non-Invasive Skin Cholesterol Point of Care Test from Miraculins Inc.
Miraculins said Thursday that the H-E-B supermarkets slated to offer the PreVu POC Test — to qualifying customers approved by an on-site, licensed practitioner — are in San Antonio, Austin, Kerrville, Edinburg, Corpus Christi, Pflugerville, San Marcos, Harlingen, Georgetown, Houston and Friendswood.
Plans call for the skin cholesterol test to be available as part of the H-E-B Second Saturday Screening program, in which certified screeners from the H-E-B Pharmacy team provide cardiovascular risk assessments to customers on the second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The PreVu test will be selectively offered as part of this clinical community outreach, along with other risk assessment testing, including blood serum cholesterol, during October, November and December, according to Miraculins.
"We are very pleased with the location of the stores for the upcoming pilot," Paul Moreau, vice president of sales and marketing for Miraculins, said in a statement. "They provide us with a strong diversity of cities, towns and communities within the southern/central portion of the state and allow us access to a mosaic population base that runs from Austin all the way down to the Texas/Mexico border."
Under its agreement with Miraculins, H-E-B will have the option to roll out PreVu POC Tests to more of its stores starting next year.
PreVu measures skin cholesterol, which Miraculins said is a key biomarker in assessing risk of coronary artery disease. The painless, in vitro diagnostic test — which involves no blood draw or needles and no overnight fasting — is conducted on the palm of the hand in less than five minutes. The results are available immediately, which facilitates point-of-care consultation and discussion with patients about the next steps they can take to address their condition.
Miraculins and H-E-B unveiled their plan for the PreVu pilot at the supermarket chain’s stores in July.
