Error Leaves 55,000 Diabetes Patients Needing New Tests

Errors by machines utilized to diagnose glucosuria mean astatine slightest 55,000 group successful England will request further humor tests, a BBC investigation has discovered.

Some patients person been wrongly diagnosed pinch type 2 glucosuria and moreover prescribed medicine they don't request - and location could beryllium much group affected opportunity NHS England.

NHSE has confirmed 16 infirmary trusts usage nan machines, made by Trinity Biotech, which person produced inaccurate trial results.

In a statement, Trinity Biotech says it is moving intimately pinch nan UK wellness regulator and has contacted each hospitals who usage nan machines.

The BBC first reported successful September 2024 that 11,000 patients faced re-testing aft a instrumentality astatine Luton and Dunstable Hospital issued incorrect glucosuria results.

NHS England now opportunity type 2 glucosuria diagnoses roseate by 10,000 successful 2024, 4% much than expected.

The procedure, known arsenic nan haemoglobin A1C test, measures mean humor sweetener levels which are utilized to diagnose type 2 glucosuria and show nan condition.

According to nan medicines and healthcare regulator (MHRA), issues pinch nan tests connected these machines was first reported successful April 2024.

Vicky Davies, 36, from Kingston upon Hull was first told she had type 2 glucosuria successful October 2024.

She was advised to effort and suffer weight first, sent for oculus screening and was later prescribed 4 tablets of Metformin a time - nan maximum dose.

In April 2025 she had further humor tests arsenic portion of her 3 period reappraisal and was told that she wasn't diabetic, which she assumed was because she had been connected Metformin.

Later that period though, she was told her humor results mightiness not person been meticulous and advised to travel disconnected nan medicine immediately.

During nan 4 months she took metformin she suffered pinch tummy issues and dizziness and still feels stressed.

"It's had a immense effect connected my life. Since nan test I person suffered pinch accent and had to return clip disconnected activity to be appointments.

"I've complained to my GP, but I didn't really get an apology. I'm conscionable truthful angry," she told BBC News.

In a missive from her GP, they said they were not alert of nan problems occurring successful nan laboratories and that they activity to nan champion of their expertise pinch nan aesculapian accusation available.

In September 2024, a message connected nan Bedfordshire spot website said 11,000 patients needed to beryllium re-tested.

It warned immoderate of them could person been misdiagnosed pinch type 2 glucosuria arsenic a consequence of problems pinch tests analysed astatine nan hospital's laboratory.

The spot apologised "for immoderate affectional distress and inconvenience".

In July 2025, nan Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it had received reports describing a affirmative bias delivered by nan Trinity Biotech machines.

This resulted successful immoderate patients being incorrectly diagnosed arsenic pre-diabetic aliases diabetic.

NHS trusts are already recalling patients for repetition tests and NHS England says anyone who needs a repetition trial will beryllium contacted by their GP aliases section hospital.

It adds that, for group who whitethorn person been wrongly diagnosed arsenic a consequence of this issue, nan consequence is debased and they would beryllium fixed manner proposal and offered support programmes first.

Metformin, which whitethorn person been mistakenly prescribed for immoderate of these patients, useful by lowering humor sweetener levels by improving nan measurement nan assemblage handles insulin.

If you acquisition these symptoms whilst taking glucosuria medication:

• hypoglycaemia (shaking/trembling, sweating, confusion, nonaccomplishment of consciousness)
• and hyperglycaemia (excessive thirst, blurred vision, recurrent infections)

The proposal is to activity aesculapian attraction immediately.

Dr Clare Hambling, glucosuria nationalist objective head for NHS England, said: "Being perchance misdiagnosed pinch immoderate semipermanent condition, specified arsenic type 2 diabetes, is understandably worrying, nevertheless nan objective consequence of harm to patients pursuing this rumor is low."

NHS England says less than 10% of their laboratories were affected and each person either replaced nan machines aliases addressed calibration issues.

In consequence to an enquiry from nan BBC, Trinity Biotech said: "The institution has worked intimately pinch nan MHRA to resoluteness nan issues knowledgeable by immoderate UK labs utilizing nan system."

The connection besides said nan institution had "issued 3 Field Safety Notices successful 2024 to each UK users, informing them of a imaginable affirmative bias issue."

These notices included "reiteration of specifications of nan actions to beryllium taken to guarantee optimum cognition of nan system, pinch an accent connected nan value of operating nan strategy per nan manufacturer's instructions," nan connection continued.