Abbott Glucose Test Strips Recall At Naval Medical Center San Diego

By Naval Medical Center San Diego Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Based on recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued on Dec. 22, 2010, Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) and clinics are recalling various lots of Abbot Diabetes Care glucose test strips.

According to the FDA, the test strips being recalled may give falsely low blood glucose results. False results may lead patients to try to raise their blood glucose unnecessarily, or they may fail to treat elevated blood glucose because of a false, low reading. Both scenarios pose risks to a patient's health.

"We do not want patients to be alarmed, but we want our beneficiaries to be aware of the recall so they will discontinue use and return the affected products," said Cmdr. Ed Vonberg, department head of NMCSD's pharmacy.

The test strips are marketed under the following brand names, specifically the Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strips; Precision Xceed Pro; Precision Xtra; Medisense Optium; Optium; OptiumEZ; and ReliOn Ultima. The test strips are used with Abbott's Precision Xtra, Precision Xceed Pro, MediSense Optium, Optium, Optium EZ and ReliOn Ultima blood glucose monitoring systems. As many as 359 million strips may be affected by the recall. The blood glucose monitoring systems are not affected by this recall.

The FDA, working with Abbot Diabetes Care, notes that the recall is related to the test strips' inability to absorb enough blood for monitoring. Strips exposed to warm weather or prolonged storage may be more likely to provide a false result. The test strips were manufactured between January and September 2010 and are sold both in retail and online settings directly to consumers, but are also used in health care facilities.

Patients who have received test strips are encouraged to check the list of lot numbers below.

If any patient has stored any test strips on the list in 86 degree Fahrenheit heat or higher, please return to the pharmacy for replacement. If it takes longer than five seconds to get a reading, and the test strips are on the list, return to the pharmacy. NMCSD patients should call or visit any of the NMCSD Pharmacies listed below:

Naval Air Station North Island Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0730 - 1600

Weekend & Fed Holidays: CLOSED (619) 545-4290

Naval Training Center Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0800 - 1630

Weekend & Fed Holidays: CLOSED

(619) 524-0931

Branch Health Clinic Miramar Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0730 - 1600

Weekend & Fed Holidays: CLOSED

(858) 577-9960

El Centro Pharmacy

Mon – Thurs: 0800 – 1130, 1300 – 1600

Fri: 0800 – 1200

Sat, Sun, & Federal Holidays: CLOSED

(760) 339-2631

Naval Medical Center Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0800 - 2100

Sat - Sun: 0800 - 1800

Fed Holidays: CLOSED

(619) 532-8400

Navy Exchange 32nd Street Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0800 - 1630

Saturday: 0900 - 1630

Sunday & Fed Holidays: CLOSED

(619) 556-9371

TOC Clairemont Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0800 - 1630

Sat: 0900 - 1630

Sun & Fed Holidays: CLOSED

619-645-0168

TOC Chula Vista Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0700 – 2000 M - F (Civilian Rx): 0830 - 1700 Sat - Sun, & Fed Holidays: 0800 – 1600

Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day: CLOSED

(619) 744-5388

TOC Santee Pharmacy

Mon – Fri: 0800 – 1630 Mon - Fri (Civilian Rx): 0800 - 1530 Sat - Sun, & Federal Holidays: CLOSED

(619) 645-0110

Beneficiaries can also contact patient relations at 619-532-6418 or 619-532-6416 for clarification.

Additionally, patients can call Abbott Diabetes Care customer service at 1-800-448-5234 (English) and 1-800-709-7010 (Spanish) to speak with a customer service representative.

Precision Xtra Blood Glucose Test Strips That Have Been Affected by the Abbott Recall of December 22, 2010 which may have been affected by Excessive Heat that could cause a false low blood glucose reading:

45001A330, 45001A467, 45001A481, 45001A482, 45001A483, 45001A487, 45001A488, 45001A496, 45001A497, 45001A499, 45001A500, 45001A503, 45001A505, 45001A506, 45001A510, 45001A511, 45001A513, 45001A519, 45001A520, 45001A521, 45001A530, 45001A532, 45001A534, 45001A536, 45001A537, 45001A545, 45001A556, 45001A565, 45001A566, 45001A568, 45001A573, 45001A577, 45001A584, 45001A594, 45001A595, 45001A597, 45001A605, 45001A607, 45001A608, 45001A609, 45001A613, 45001A614, 45001A626, 45001A634, 45001A637, 45001A641, 45001A644, 45001A645, 45001A656, 45001A660, 45001A664, 45001A669, 45001A670, 45001A671, 45001A677, 45001A678, 45001A682, 45001A685, 45001A694, 45001A700, 45001A705, 45001A706, 45001A707, 45001A709, 45001A712, 45001A730, 45001A732, 45001A739, 45001A742, 45001A744, 45001A751, 45001A753, 45001A757, 45001A762, 45001A777, 45001A778, 45001A786, 45001A788, 45001A790, 45001A798, 45001A806, 45001A814, 45001A815, 45001A816,45001A820, 45001A840, 45001A842, 45001A847, 45001A852, 45001A856, 45001A860, 45001A861, 45001A872, 45001A876, 45001A882, 45001A910, 45001A912, 45001A914, 45001A918, 45001A920, 45001A921, 45001A940, 45001A947, 45001A948, 45001A949, 45001A971, 45001A976, 45001A979, 45001A982, 45001A983, 45001C008, 45001C011, 45001C012 45384, 45388, 45396, 45407, 45418, 45455, 45456, 45463, 45464, 45512, 45514, 45516, 45521, 45611, 45612, 45614, 45619, 45627, 45632, 45639, 45645, 45646, 45653, 45670, 45679, 45680, 45682, 45707, 45708, 45724, 45729, 45731, 45732, 45733, 45735, 45737, 45738, 45755, 45777, 45782, 45783, 45784