Theranos Wellness Centers Aren’t Using “Nanotainers” at This Time

No knowledge of the biotech, but this is <i>really</i> shady. Above-board companies simply do not look like this.<p>1) Refusal to use the ground-breaking technology:<p>&gt;Then I asked about what Theranos calls “nanotainers” or tiny vials that can give you test results with a single drop of blood.<p>&gt;“Oh you have to order that separately,” she informed me. “We take those intravenously if you bundle a bunch of tests together.”<p>&gt;[...]I then informed them I was a journalist and would like to take the test separately to test the technology. They told me I would still need to order it separately.<p>2) Sudden delays and bizarre excuses when you insist on using their ground-breaking technology and identify as a journalist:<p>&gt; So I went to order it separately.<p>&gt;That’s when things got weird. It took much longer to process this separate order at the counter. I was told it was because they had to manually type in my order on the other end.<p>&gt;[...]I spoke with Chris, the Theranos manager, on the phone who informed me it was about supplies. Okay, but the people with the supplies to administer [the] test thought I could take it until management said they could not that day.<p>3) Extreme concern with following a central PR script when people ask questions:<p>&gt;Then I walked myself back to the testing center and could overhear one of the women on the phone with management in a panicked voice telling them I was a journalist doing an investigative piece (I wasn’t, just curious as to how it worked).<p>4) Scouts that are instructed to alert central command whenever people start asking questions (edit: especially when that was during a <i>patient consultation</i>):<p>&gt;I reached out to Theranos head of communications Brooke Buchanan for an explanation as well. She’d already been informed I was in the store today.<p>5) Insistence that you check only specific cases of their product:<p>&gt; I was asked why I chose not to go to the Theranos main office in Palo Alto for a test instead [of the Walgreen&#x27;s location the author went to].<p>Also -- just a personal observation -- the use of the phrase &quot;at this time&quot; strongly correlates with how badly someone wants you to stop asking questions (police officers citing you, HR employees with bad news, PR spokespeople in a bind, etc).

To me, one of the sad things about the Theranos debacle is that even if they DON&#x27;T have super whiz-bang nanotainer technology, the general model of having affordable, transparently priced tests where you can just walk into a Walgreen&#x27;s and order them is pretty awesome in my opinion.<p>There are other companies that offer something somewhat similar (e.g. AnyLabTestNow), but the experience still sucks - locations&#x2F;times are nowhere near as convenient as your local drug store, and the tests are expensive. I don&#x27;t know how much Theranos&#x27; price reduction is dependent on its nanotainer tech, but if someone came in and offered an affordable service like CVS&#x27;s minute clinics, but for tests, I&#x27;d use it, even if they had to do normal draws.

In general if a company is unfairly receiving bad press claiming its product is a sham, the usual response is to counteract that by being open and transparent and allowing independent assessment to disprove such claims. Want to pop in unannounced to test our product? Sure, no problem, let us show you how wonderful things are.<p>The fact that they keep acting all shady doesn&#x27;t bode well for their efforts to claim that the current criticism against their product and leadership is inaccurate or unfair.

I live in Phoenix, AZ and voluntarily sought out a Theranos test as part of an annual check-up last January. My PCP (primary care physician) ordered a bunch of blood tests, and I made the call to use a Theranos center at Walgreens.<p>I showed up and they already had the order. I was advised that my insurance probably would not be accepted, but the total cost for a CBC, Lipid Panel, and 2 other blood tests was $42 cash so no insurance coverage was STILL cheaper than my covered labs.<p>To draw the blood, a near-painless prick of my finger was used to fill I believe 2 nanotainers. A few days later, the results were sent to my PCP (though for some reason never to me).<p>The entire process was (nearly) painless, extremely affordable, and convenient.<p>I can&#x27;t speak beyond my personal experience to the broader allegations, but I have to say that the vibe I got from the whole experience is that the innovation is real. Cheap tests I can order directly that are quicker to take and nearly pain-free? Yes, please!<p>But based on mixed signals in the media, there is now an open question on whether the test results are in fact accurate.<p>Also, although the company responded publicly to the allegations[1], for some reason the pitchforks haven&#x27;t gone away. It also does seem like the transparency has left a little to be desired. Maybe this would spill key trade secrets?<p>Sadly, given all the media confusion, I don&#x27;t feel I can trust the results of a Theranos test anymore, but that&#x27;s mostly because of all the media noise, and nothing to do with my experience itself. Hopefully, they can find a way to restore confidence in the service. If it delivers on the promise, it would be transformative.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theranos.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;posts&#x2F;custom&#x2F;theranos-facts" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theranos.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;posts&#x2F;custom&#x2F;theranos-facts</a>

There has been a lot of critical attention towards theranos. I have no opinion whether it is granted or not, in general I feel critical is always good, but the volume is so high, does anyone have any insight into the intense scrutiny theranos is receiving?

Some commenters are making me wonder if Theranos&#x27; new narrative is that their value proposition is opening blood collection facilities in drug stores &#x2F; supermarkets.<p>If it is, and Theranos feels this &quot;new&quot; value proposition is enough to justify their valuation, I&#x27;m not sure what they&#x27;re smoking, but I would sure like some!