The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an alert to the public that counterfeit blood glucose test strips are being sold in the United States for use with various models of LifeScan's One Touch Blood Glucose Monitors used by people with diabetes to measure their blood glucose.

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. However, no injuries have been reported to the FDA to date.

Patients can identify the counterfeit strips fairly easily by examining the package labeling.

Counterfeit One Touch Basic/Profile Test Strips:

• Lot Numbers 272894A, 2619932 or 2606340
  
• Multiple Languages- English, Greek and Portuguese text on the outer carton
  
• Limited to 50-Count One Touch (Basic/Profile) Test Strip packages

Counterfeit One Touch Ultra Test Strips:

• Lot Number 2691191
  
• Multiple Languages- English and French text on the outer carton
  
• Limited to 50-Count One Touch Ultra Test Strip packages
  Patients who have the counterfeit strips should stop using them, replace them immediately and contact their physician. For questions or concerns, please contact LifeScan directly at 1-866-621-4855.

Visit www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01490.html for more information.

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