GC MS, a company specializing in diagnostic reagents and medical devices, has signed an original equipment manufacturer contract to supply “Greencare A1c,” a fully automated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) monitoring system, to Arkray in Japan.

Under the accord, GC MS will supply 8.1 billion won ($6.8 million) worth of Greencare A1c to Arkray for four years.

As Arkray export network reaches 80 countries, including the U.S., Europe and China, GC MS expects that the deal will lead to a full-scale expansion toward the global markets. Greencare A1c, unlike the personal blood glucose meter, can identify the glycated hemoglobin, which is an essential indicator of diabetes management and can accurately grasp the status of diabetic patients without being affected by the external environment such as eating.

The system has also received certification from the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).

“The collaboration with Arkray, which has an excellent quality control system, is expected to be a stepping stone for GC MS's goal to enter the global glycosylated hemoglobin measurement system market,” GC MS’s CEO of Ahn Eun-uk said. "We believe that business diversification, such as this contract, will continue."