Error means 55,000 patients require diabetes retests after potential misdiagnoses
Some NHS patients wrongly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
- At least 55,000 NHS patients may require new blood tests for type 2 diabetes due to inaccurate results from faulty machines.
- The errors were caused by machines manufactured by a US and Ireland-based company, Trinity Biotech, leading to some patients being wrongly diagnosed and prescribed unnecessary medication.
- The issue affects 16 hospital trusts across the UK, with the problem first identified last year by Bedfordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
- Concerns about the accuracy of these haemoglobin A1C tests were reported in April 2024, according to the medicines and healthcare regulator (MHRA).
- NHS England confirmed that affected laboratories have either replaced the machines or addressed calibration issues, and patients needing re-tests will be contacted.