HbA1c errors led to some people being wrongly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes

At least 55,000 people will need repeat blood tests after errors were discovered in machines used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes. NHS England has confirmed that up to 10% of NHS laboratories in England have been affected by the errors in the HbA1c machines used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes. The effects of this mean that some people have been wrongly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and some have been prescribed unnecessary medication.

The machines producing the inaccurate results are made by Trinity Biotech and the NHS reports that 16 hospitals use these machines. This is less than 10% of NHS laboratories and the NHS national clinical director told the press that the clinical risk of haram to patients is low. All the affected machines have either been replaced or the calibration issues have been sorted out since the MHRA issued their advice in July.
It is important to know that anyone affected by this error will need a repeat test and will be contacted by their GP.

Background
The BBC has investigated the issue after first reporting in September 2024 that 11,000 patients faced re-testing after a machine at Luton and Dunstable Hospital issued incorrect test results. According to the MHRA, issues with tests on the machines were first reported in April 2024.
Trinity Biotech said that the company had “issued three Field Safety Notices in 2024 to all UK users, informing them of a potential positive bias issue”. (September 2025)