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An investigation by the BBC has revealed that due to errors from machines used to diagnose diabetes, approximately 55,000 individuals in England will require further blood tests. Some patients have received incorrect diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and have been prescribed unnecessary medication. NHS England has stated that there could be even more people affected by this issue. The inaccurate test results have been attributed to machines made by Trinity Biotech, which are used by 16 hospital trusts.
The issue originally came to light in September 2024 when a machine at Luton and Dunstable Hospital provided incorrect diabetes results, leading to 11,000 patients needing re-testing. NHS England has reported a rise of 10,000 type 2 diabetes diagnoses in 2024, which is 4% higher than expected. The haemoglobin A1C test, used to measure average blood sugar levels for diagnosing type 2 diabetes and monitoring the condition, has been affected by issues with the machines, as reported by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in April 2024.
One individual affected by the misdiagnosis, Vicky Davies from Kingston upon Hull, shared her experience of being prescribed diabetes medication only to later discover she did not have the condition. She highlighted the negative impact this situation had on her life, causing stress and health issues. NHS trusts have started recalling patients for repeat tests, while NHS England assures that anyone needing a re-test will be contacted by their GP or local hospital. Metformin, a medication that may have been incorrectly prescribed, works by improving insulin handling in the body to lower blood sugar levels.
Dr. Clare Hambling, diabetes national clinical director for NHS England, emphasized the low clinical risk of harm to patients despite the potential misdiagnoses. Trinity Biotech has been working closely with MHRA to address the issues experienced by UK labs using their machines. The company has issued notices to users regarding the calibration issues and proper operation of the system. Less than 10% of NHS laboratories were affected, and they have either replaced the machines or resolved calibration issues to ensure accurate testing
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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