Nova Biomedical StatStrip Glucose Meter recalled for patient data mislabeling risk
What this means
A software timing issue in the StatStrip Glucose and B-Ketone meter (Model 63683) can cause the device to display a previously scanned patient barcode when scanning a new patient's barcode. If the operator doesn't notice the mismatch, the current patient's glucose result gets recorded under the wrong patient's medical record, and the actual patient's result is never recorded. This could lead to incorrect treatment decisions, particularly for critically ill patients, newborns, and infants.
- Check if your facility uses Nova Biomedical StatStrip Glucose and B-Ketone meters (Model 63683) with software versions 0.00.13.10 through 1.5.14.25
- Verify that barcode information on the meter screen matches the patient being tested before confirming results
- Contact Nova Biomedical or your equipment provider for updated software or replacement instructions
The agency's original wording
A software synchronization/timing issue in the barcode scanning and patient data processing component that causes the device to intermittently retain a previously scanned barcode including patient identification (ID) barcodes and quality control (QC) solution ID barcodes when a new barcode is scanned, resulting in the prior barcode information remaining displayed on the screen for the current test. When this defect occurs and the operator accepts the incorrectly displayed patient information without recognizing the mismatch, the current patient's glucose result will be incorrectly assigned to the previous patient's medical record and transmitted to the data management system (DMS), and the current patient's medical record will not receive a result, leaving their glucose status unrecorded and their clinical management without the information needed to guide treatment decisions. The previous patient, whose medical record now contains a glucose result that does not belong to them, may receive inappropriate clinical intervention based on that erroneous result, particularly in critically ill patients, neonates, and infants who cannot communicate symptoms or self-treat. The defect also affects QC barcode scanning: if a QC scan triggers the same retention behavior, QC results may be attributed to an incorrect identifier or QC tests may fail without the user recognizing the underlying cause. This defect does not affect the analytical accuracy of glucose measurements.
Official notice
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm?Product=Z-3130-2026More Nova Biomedical recalls
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