Patients have been urgently advised to stop using and return diabetes testing kits amid fears they give false readings, which could put lives at risk. Accu-Chek Aviva and Accu-Chek Performa tests have been recalled after The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reported that more than 260,000 packs are estimated to have been affected.
It warned the test strips, commonly used by diabetics for blood glucose testing, may give increased strip error messages prior to dosing with blood and in some cases may give falsely high or low readings. John Wilkinson, MHRA director of medical devices, 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.