Privacy and Marketing Policies

Privacy Policy

Alere® Incorporated complies with all applicable provisions of law relating to the privacy, confidentiality, security, integrity, transmission or exchange of medical, personal, consumer or financial information obtained and maintained by Alere. Alere is a "business associate" of its client health plans which are "covered entities" under the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and complies with those rules as they apply to business associates. Alere does not use or disclose Protected Health Information for any purpose other than as required to perform its agreements with health plans or as otherwise required or permitted by law. Alere uses appropriate safeguards consistent with reasonable practices in the industry to ensure that Protected Health Information is not otherwise used or disclosed. Upon the expiration or earlier termination of an agreement with a health plan, Alere returns or destroys all Protected Health Information that it created or obtained where feasible. In circumstances where return or destruction is not feasible, Alere continues to extend the protections of the Rules to the information and limits further uses and disclosures to those purposes that make the return or destruction of the information infeasible.

In its electronic transmission of data, Alere has implemented and maintains appropriate safeguards and controls and exercises due diligence to protect data against unauthorized access, use, and/or disclosure, including encryption for all transmission of confidential data via public networks (e.g., the Internet); using industry standard encryption algorithms and keylengths. Alere maintains appropriate mechanisms for access control, user identification and authorization, physical security, personnel training, the protection of processing infrastructure, written security management policies and the protection of media. Alere conforms to the HCFA Internet Security Policy.

What Information is Collected?

To have significant access to secure sections of our Web site, members must register. In order to register, a user must supply specific information about themselves such as name, gender, and date of birth (we require users to provide their age and gender because medical information may differ based upon this information). We also require users to enter their e-mail address upon registration (this is used to verify their intent to register).

Use of Your Information

Alere uses visitor information (including your Internet providers or your Internet Protocol address, the sofware version and domain reported by your browser and cookies) to help us manage our Web site, provide functionality to you, and to administer our plans. We also use the information to help us compile general statistical data, keep in contact with our users, and provide a better interactive service for you.

We do not share personal information gathered at www.alere.com with any other party unless we are required to do so by law or we are authorized to do so by you or your authorized representative.

Alere currently uses the information we collect in the following areas:

To create general, statistical reports. These reports do not include information that would specifically identify individuals. For example, a report might include such facts as 55% of all users use the Smart Living web site, or 20% of all users use the diabetes section.
For other business purposes such as sending you educational mailings, questionnaires, periodic health reminders, or other information.
We will not contact you via email without your permission except as specified above, or in response to messages sent to our healthcare team through our message system, or in connection with the registration process. We will never release, sell, rent, or otherwise provide any personally identifiable information on any users to any third party, except as set forth in this policy, without your express permission to do so.

Marketing & Advertising Policy

Alere does not and will not advertise, market or promote any products or services to its patients or their practitioners when discussing a patient'™s health condition.

Alere identifies sources for health information included in all marketing and advertising activities.

Alere provides its customers with information about any financial relationship between it and other entities engaged in advertising, marketing and provision of goods and services through the organization.

Alere identifies any advertising and marketing materials that are included in written program materials for patients and practitioners.