| Counterfeit Product Alert
-- Counterfeit OneTouch® Basic®/Profile® Test Strips Discovered
In Saudi Arabia and Dubai
--
May 2007
If you use, recommend, distribute or sell OneTouch® Brand Test Strips, we want to make you aware that we have recently discovered counterfeit OneTouch® Basic®/Profile®1 Test Strips in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Counterfeit test strips are fake products not made by LifeScan.
This issue does not involve OneTouch® Ultra®, OneTouch® SureStep® or SmartScan® Test Strips.
Potential Risk to Patients
Testing of various counterfeit test strips obtained by LifeScan to date from around the world shows erratic performance that includes highly inaccurate test results or failure to provide test results. It is unknown how counterfeit test strips that may be in the marketplace will perform. LifeScan cannot ensure the accuracy and reliability of blood glucose test results obtained from test strips it did not manufacture. Patients should discontinue use of these counterfeit test strips and replace them immediately. Patients should also contact their physician to assess potential treatment implications. Use of these counterfeit test strips could result in inaccurate test results that may lead to improper treatment. Notably, insulin treatment based on inaccurate blood glucose results could result in serious injury or death.
Identifying Counterfeit Test Strips
The counterfeit test strips and packaging that we have detected look like genuine LifeScan OneTouch Brand Test Strips intended for sale in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. The counterfeit test strips may be distinguished by the following characteristics:
Counterfeit OneTouch (Basic/Profile) Test Strips
Lot Number |
Expiry Date |
Comments |
277019A |
December 2007 |
Genuine lot number, fake expiry date |
227079A |
August 2007 |
Fake lot number |
257909A |
August 2007 |
Genuine lot number, fake expiry date |
What You Should Do
People With Diabetes: Discontinue use of these counterfeit test strips and call LifeScan for assistance. You should also contact your physician to assess potential treatment implications.
Health Care Professionals: Please share this information with your diabetes patients who use OneTouch Basic/Profile Test Strips. For additional information contact LifeScan.
Pharmacies/Retailers: We recommend you routinely check your inventory of OneTouch Basic/Profile Test Strips. If you discover any counterfeit test strips, please remove them from your shelves and/or do not re-distribute them, and report your discovery immediately to LifeScan. In addition, ask your patients who have received these counterfeit test strips to return them to you for verification and replacement, as necessary. Please be aware that LifeScan will not issue credit for counterfeit products. For restitution, you will need to contact your original source of supply for these test strips. Counterfeit products are continually being modified to avoid detection. If you are purchasing any LifeScan Products from a source that is not an authorized distributor, you may be placing your patients at risk of receiving counterfeit and secondary market products. Authorized distributors have agreed not to purchase products from the secondary market, which is a known source of counterfeit products. How To Contact LifeScan
Call OneTouch Customer Service at 8004530 (UAE) or 800 244 0 266 (Saudi Arabia).
We recommend you periodically visit this Web page or bookmark www.GenuineOneTouch.com for important Counterfeit Product Alerts or future updates.
|
