Diabetes testing kit recall

News of a diabetes testing kit recall is said to be “urgent” amid fears of lives at risk over false readings.

The Accu-Chek Aviva and the Accu-Chek Performa are the diabetes testing kits being recalled that could lead to an overdose or an under-dose of insulin that can lead to serious health complications for users.

Advice to patients is to stop using the affected devices and return them to a pharmacy for a replacement.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) estimates that there could be more than 260,000 of the affected diabetes testing kits that need to be recalled that reportedly may give falsely high or falsely low reading.

This in turn may lead to unsuspecting users either overdosing or under-dosing on insulin, risking hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia.

The affected diabetes testing kit lot numbers are as follows:

Accu-Chek Aviva

50-strip pack: 497392; 497391; 496915; 496809; 496802; 496807.

10-strip pack: 497344; 497392.

Accu-Chek Performa

10-strip pack: 476597; 476646.

This is not the first Accu-Check recall that has potentially put users’ at risk.

MHRA director of medical devices, John Wilkinson, said:

“It is important people check their test strips and if necessary seek alternatives as soon as possible. If people have any questions about their blood glucose readings when using these test strips and meters they should speak with their doctor or pharmacist.

We continue to encourage people to report any issues involving medical devices to the MHRA via our Yellow Card Scheme. Inaccurate readings could mean you over or under-dose with insulin, which in the short term can cause problems with hyper and hypoglycaemia.”

In incredibly serious problem

This is not the first recall involving diabetes users’ lifesaving equipment causing problems. Although it’s realistically hard to achieve perfection with any kind of medical product, the diabetes testing kit recall is the kind of problem that involves lifesaving equipment where the issues and defects could cause immediate and serious harm to users can mean people who fall victim to problems are entitled to justice.

Our Group Action lawyers haver advised and represented victims in some of the biggest UK actions, and we’re here to help anyone with any questions or anyone in need of advice. Please don’t hesitate to contact the team for further assistance if you are a part of the diabetes testing kit recall.