Diabetes Test Error Affects 55,000 Patients in England 
A major healthcare alert has emerged in England after faulty diabetes test machines led to inaccurate results for more than 55,000 patients. The error, linked to diagnostic devices manufactured by Trinity Biotech, means thousands will now require new blood tests to confirm whether they actually have type 2 diabetes.
Misdiagnosis and Wrong Prescriptions
The problem was identified in 16 NHS hospital trusts using these machines. Some patients were wrongly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, while others were prescribed unnecessary medication like metformin. This has caused stress, side effects, and disruption in the lives of many individuals.
One patient, Vicky Davies from Hull, shared her story of being diagnosed with diabetes in 2024, prescribed medication, and later informed that her test results may have been inaccurate. She experienced stress, stomach issues, and dizziness before being told she was not diabetic.
NHS and Trinity Biotech Response
NHS England confirmed the problem and assured patients that the clinical risk is low. Anyone needing re-testing will be contacted by their GP or local hospital. NHS trusts have already stopped using the affected equipment.
Meanwhile, Trinity Biotech issued a statement saying it is working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and has released multiple Field Safety Notices to hospitals, advising on proper calibration and safe operation of the machines.
Patient Safety Concerns
Medical experts say the misdiagnosis has caused distress and anxiety, while also adding extra workload for GPs. The Royal College of GPs emphasized that such technology failures are deeply concerning and highlight the importance of accuracy in diagnostic tests.
What Patients Should Do
If you are currently taking diabetes medication such as metformin and notice symptoms of hypoglycaemia (shaking, sweating, confusion, loss of consciousness) or hyperglycaemia (excessive thirst, blurred vision, frequent infections), you should seek medical attention immediately.
NHS England reassures patients that the majority of affected cases are being re-tested and that less than 10% of UK laboratories were impacted.
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