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Error leaves 55,000 diabetes patients needing new tests
At least 55,000 patients will be retested after faulty machines caused false positive diabetes results, leading to unnecessary medication and affecting under 10% of NHS labs, officials said.
- NHS England confirmed that at least 55,000 people will need further blood tests after errors were discovered at one in ten NHS labs in England involving haemoglobin A1C tests.
- Last year, the problem first emerged when Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust warned that 11,000 patients at Luton and Dunstable Hospital may have received higher blood glucose readings needing re-testing.
- The faulty devices, supplied by Trinity Biotech, produced false positive-biased A1C readings, prompting the US and Ireland-based manufacturer and MHRA to issue three Field Safety Notices to 16 NHS hospital trusts in 2024.
- NHS England says GPs and local hospitals will contact anyone needing repeat tests, while patients prescribed Metformin faced side effects, and Dr Clare Hambling stated it's "understandably worrying" but risk is low.
- Last year’s diagnosis surge — 10,000 more cases — raised early alarm bells as type 2 diabetes diagnoses rose 4% more than expected and NHS England may identify additional affected patients.
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Diabetes alert as testing mistake leaves 55,000 patients in need of new checks
A major healthcare crisis has emerged across England, with a minimum of 55,000 individuals requiring fresh blood tests following the discovery of defective diabetes diagnostic equipment. The BBC has uncovered that numerous patients have received incorrect type 2 diabetes diagnoses after malfunctioning Trinity Biotech devices generated false readings.These individuals received unnecessary prescriptions and medical interventions based on flawed te…
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 36%
C 46%
R 18%
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