Health officials ask public to stop using Abbott Glucose Strips after recall

The Ministry of Health has urged the public to promptly stop the use of some Abbott Glucose Test strips as they have been recalled following tests which proved that they yield an inaccurate blood sugar reading.

At a press conference yesterday, Chief Medical Officer David Johnson said that these false low blood result readings may be detrimental to a diabetic’s health.

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“We have just learned from the World Health Organization, specifically through international health regulation, that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has announced of the Abott Glucose Test Strips being marketed under the following brand names, Precision Xceed Pro, Precision Xtra, Medisense Optimum, Optium, OptiumEZ and RellOn Ultima,” he stated.

“The strips being recalled may give a false low blood results and false results may lead patients to try to raise their blood sugar unnecessarily or they may fail to treat the elevated blood sugar reading because of the false reading that they’re receiving,” he said.

He assured that the machines are intact and it is only the strips that are faulty.

“The machines are not faulty, so if you have the machine at home we’re not asking you to stop using the machine itself, it’s the type of strip that we asking you to stop reading….For instance, these current strips are giving low readings, false low readings so the doctor or the patient might have a tendency to say ok since the machine is telling me that my blood sugar is low  I don’t need to take tablets,” he said.

“So it will be telling you it’s low when in fact it’s not low; its probably high and you might stop taking your tablet and what would happen, if you stop taking a tablet because you think it is low if the machine is telling you it’s low, you might end up getting a diabetic coma and probably even die. So that’s very, very important,” he said.

Johnson said that these strips are unable to absorb enough blood for monitoring.

“Unfortunately, for us in Dominica, these brands are presently being used in Dominica, both within the Ministry of Health at the hospital, at the health centers, private pharmacists, homes etc. and are also sold within the private pharmacies,” he said.

The chief medical officer assured that the Ministry of Health is taking all the necessary steps to adhere to the recall “because of the significant implications it as for our patients or diabetic patients who are currently using these strips all over Dominica”.

He advised the general public to take the necessary measures and promptly stop the use of all of these strips.

Chief Pharmacist Errol Thomas, who also addressed the press conference, said that an alternative for these strips are currently being sought.

“So all the OECS countries from Antigua down to Grenada, would probably have these preparation in stock so we’re working closely with OECS and the OECS is working closely with Abbotts in Puerto Rico to get a replacement.

“ Of course we will give the public more details when the information comes up but it’s just this morning we were notified so that’s why we are alerting the public to cease using that because they may get false results,” he added.

Abbott Laboratories, Washington announced a recall of about 359 million glucose  strips earlier this week.

For more information, persons are asked to call 4482060 or through the hospital at extension .2119.