13,000 patients receive inaccurate diabetes lab results

About 13,000 patients received inaccurate diabetes laboratory results after a testing error, health authorities have confirmed.

The problem affected HbA1c tests, used both to diagnose diabetes and to monitor how well existing diabetes is being managed. Inaccurate readings can lead to medication being adjusted incorrectly, or to a diagnosis being missed or wrongly made.

Affected patients are being contacted and offered retesting. Health officials said the error was identified through internal quality checks and that the underlying cause in the testing process has been corrected.

Clinicians have urged patients not to change medication on their own initiative and to wait for repeat results and advice from their own doctor.