When Strips Malfunction

 Posted on September 05, 2013 in Defective Medical Devices

Nova Diabetes Care engaged in an aggressive campaign to recall blood sugar test strips because of a potential defect that causes the strips to provide incorrect readings. The devices were sold in the United States as well as in 13 other countries and Puerto Rico, and the recall applies to strips marketed under the name of Max Blood Glucose Test Strips and Nova Max Plus Glucose Meter Kits.

This unfortunate news can have serious repercussions for diabetics, whom already have their hands full managing a condition that requires constant care. The strips can cause false readings, which in turn, could cause people to administer the incorrect dose of insulin. Insulin plays an important part in controlling blood sugar levels, and it occurs naturally in the body. Those suffering from diabetes, however, are unable to produce normal levels of insulin naturally and have to rely on diabetes testing kits. These kits measure the blood sugar concentration in the blood and inform the user of whether they have too much sugar, thus requiring an insulin injection, or whether they have too little sugar, in which case they would need less insulin and more foods rich in sugar.

When a test strip gives an incorrect reading, it can cause a person to administer too much or too little insulin, both of which can have potentially fatal consequences.

In the case of Nova Diabetes Care, the strips were contaminated with a chemical during the manufacturing process, causing them to give false readings. In the world of defective medical devices, this is knows as a manufacturing defect, and it exposes the manufacturer to liability for injures resulting from said defect.

If you think you may have suffered an injury from a defective medical device, consult an Illinois attorney who specializes in defective medical device cases. The consultation is free, and you will not be charged attorney fees until there is a recovery.