US warns about fake diabetic blood test strips

U.S. health officials warned diabetics on Friday not to use counterfeit blood sugar test strips that were distributed nationwide and could provide inaccurate results.

The test strips are being sold for use with various models of LifeScan Inc. One Touch brand blood glucose monitors, the Food and Drug Administration said. LifeScan is a unit of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

“The counterfeit test strips potentially could give incorrect blood glucose values - either too high or too low - which might result in a patient taking either too much or too little insulin and lead to serious injury or death,” an FDA statement said.

No injuries have been reported to date, the agency said, adding that FDA officials were still investigating the matter.

The counterfeit test strips included those sold under the brand One Touch Basic Profile with lot numbers 272894A, 2619932 or 2606340. English, Greek and Portuguese writing was displayed on the outer carton.

Another fake batch was sold under the One Touch Ultra name with the lot number 2691191. English and French text appeared on the carton.

The fake test strips were sold in 50-count packages, the FDA said.

Consumers should stop using the fake test strips, replace them immediately and contact their physician, the agency said.

The FDA said the test strips were distributed to pharmacies and stores nationwide but primarily in Ohio, New York, Florida, Maryland and Missouri. The agency said the test strips were distributed by Medical Plastic Devices, Inc. of Quebec, Canada, and Champion Sales Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Officials at Medical Plastic Devices were not immediately available for comment. Efforts to reach Champion Sales Inc. were unsuccessful.

LifeScan said it had immediately notified the FDA once it learned about the counterfeit test strips and was “vigorously pursuing legal actions.”

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.