Misleading results from imported blood glucose testing strips
Pharmacists are advised to check their stocks of Lifescan OneTouch glucose test strips and not to dispense plasma-calibrated test strips.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued an
alert regarding plasma-calibrated versions of these strips that have
been imported and distributed in the United Kingdom.
Plasma-calibrated strips give results 12 per cent higher than the whole
blood-calibrated strips which are normally marketed. This may lead to
patients being unaware that their blood glucose level is low or to inappropriate
alteration of treatment. Pharmacists should identify any patients who
have been supplied with plasma strips and replace the strips with whole-blood
strips. Patients should be advised to retest their blood glucose using
whole-blood strips.
The words “Genuine 25 OneTouch test strips Plasma Calibrated” appear
on the vials of plasma strips, but not on the external packaging.
The words “whole blood calibrations” appear predominantly
on the front and back of the boxes of whole blood calibrated test strips.
The strips are used with Lifescan OneTouch II, Lifescan OneTouch Profile
or Lifescan OneTouch Basic blood glucose meters.
Patient reporting This week an initiative was launched by the MHRA
and PharmacyHealthLink to encourage patients to report problems with
medical devices directly to the MHRA (see p780).
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