FDA ANNOUNCES RECALL OF 359 LOTS OF DIABETES TEST STRIPS

On December 22, 2010, the FDA issued a recall of 359 lots of Abbott Diabetes Care glucose test strips marketed under the following brand names:
Precision Xceed Pro
Precision Xtra
Medisense Optium
Optium
Optium EZ
ReliOn Ultima

The test strips were manufactured between January and September 2010.

The test strips from these lots are defective because they fail to absorb the appropriate amount of blood in order to provide an accurate reading of glucose levels.  As a result, these may give false blood level results, causing a patient to either raise his blood glucose level unnecessarily or fail to treat a high blood glucose level due to a false low reading.
Note: Only the test strips themselves have a defect, not the monitoring systems used with the strips.

This recall effects lots sold in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  They were available to consumers in retail stores, but were also purchased by hospitals and other health care facilities.

If you or someone you know has been injured by the use of a potentially defective glucose test strip from any of the above-listed brand names, please contact me by clicking here.