Glucose monitoring systems developer DexCom (San Diego) reported that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted its request for a waiver from certain Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS) rules concerning radio frequency transmissions of its short-term and long-term continuous glucose monitoring systems. The waiver provides clearance for the DexCom continuous glucose monitoring systems to wirelessly transmit data to patients in the MICS band.

DexCom previously cited the need to obtain this waiver in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to DexCom, the FCC based its waiver on "The significant medical value of these devices as presently constituted for current diabetic patients … The substantial public interest in making a blood glucose monitoring system available is uncontested."

Clarient relocates laboratory

Clarient (Aliso Viejo, California), a technology and services resource for pathologists, oncologists and the pharmaceutical industry, reported moving its Diagnostics Services laboratory to a new, expanded facility in Aliso Viejo. The lab has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists, based on the results of an on-site inspection.

Clarient said the move was motivated in part by capacity constraints at its former facility.

Ronald Andrews Jr., president and CEO, said the new facility "will allow us to use our current resources more efficiently, provide increased capacity to achieve the growth expected over the coming years and add new technologies for advanced cancer assessment as they become available."

Clarient provides technologies, services and support for the characterization, assessment and treatment of cancer. It is a majority-owned subsidiary of Safeguard Scientifics (Wayne, Pennsylvania).

Ciphergen not in Nasdaq compliance

Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, California) said that on Jan. 9, the Nasdaq Listings Qualification Department notified Ciphergen that it believes that the company has failed to comply with the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq National Market because it did not file a listing notification and obtain shareholder approval for the July 2005 sale and issuance of shares to Quest Diagnostics (Lyndhurst, New Jersey).

Nasdaq indicated that it believes the July 22 transaction with Quest constituted a change of control which required shareholder approval because the number of shares purchased by Quest, together with the number of shares potentially issuable upon exercise of the warrant, could exceed 20% of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the company.

The company said it disagrees with the determination by Nasdaq that this transaction constitutes a change of control and has executed an agreement with Quest clarifying that the total number of shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the transaction and issuable upon exercise of the warrant will at no time exceed 20% of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the company.

The company was provided until Jan. 17 to present its views in writing to Nasdaq.

Seniors, boomers say no to in-home monitoring

The U.S.'s senior and baby boomer populations are not currently receptive to in-home health monitoring, according to Parks Associates' (Dallas) Delivering Quality Healthcare to the Digital Home, which reports that two-thirds from both populations see little to no value in these services.

Of the one-fifth who find the service valuable, 60% would still not spend extra money, either out-of-pocket or in higher healthcare premiums, for in-home health monitoring. Only 20% would accept a moderate increase in health insurance premiums, and another 16% to 20% would be willing to pay out of pocket for it.