Updated 3 September 2024
We are currently contacting a number of patients in the Luton, South Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire areas to ask them to attend for a repeat blood test. This is because some patients may have received an HbA1c blood test result that was higher than actual.
You may receive a call from the hospital in the coming weeks asking you to come and have another blood sample taken for re-testing. Please be assured that we will contact you if your result might have been affected. We are asking residents to please avoid calling the hospital or your GP to ask whether you need to be re-tested because we need to focus our effort on arranging the retests with those patients who need them.
Please do not attend for a HbA1c retest if you have not been directly contacted by the hospital either by phone or letter. If you have received a letter, please ensure you have the blood request form provided with you. If you attend and do not need a test, you will be turned away.
This only relates to some HbA1C tests analysed at our Luton and Dunstable University Hospital laboratory on certain dates in April and July 2024. We carry out a wide range of different blood-tests on behalf of GPs, community teams and hospital patients, and the only test that is affected is for blood glucose levels – HbA1c.
For more information and frequently asked questions, please see below.
Further information
In April and July 2024 we experienced an intermittent issue with our HbA1c blood test analysing machines in our Luton and Dunstable University Hospital laboratory which may have resulted in some patients receiving HbA1c results that were potentially higher than actual.
HbA1c is a blood test that measures the average blood glucose levels of an individual. It’s used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, as well as monitor blood glucose control in people with diabetes.
We have worked with clinicians from the hospital and GP to identify patients who may have been given incorrect HbA1c results and what action we need to take. Based on expert clinical advice regarding prioritisation we are currently contacting all those who had potential incorrect tests to give further details and offer a re-test as a precaution. This is likely to be ongoing for a few weeks. If you have not heard from us then please do not contact the hospital at this stage, as we co-ordinate the high volume of additional blood tests required.
Only HbA1c tests during certain days in April and July are affected by this issue. If you have had any other blood test recently, then you will not be affected by this. The analysers in question only test for HbA1c, so no other blood tests have been affected by this issue and patients should continue to attend any blood test appointments as normal.
We sincerely apologise for any emotional distress and inconvenience that has been caused by this issue. We are undertaking a detailed review to find out what went wrong and identify any learning.
As a precautionary measure we are no longer analysing these results at our Luton lab.
FAQs
Q: I have seen the following messaging on my NHS App, HbA1c Flagging for at Risk Patients, what should I do?
A: Although we understand any patient will be concerned to learn their blood test might have been wrong, it is important not to worry. This message (as below) is primarily to alert your GP that your result may change as a result of your recall for testing.
*THIS REPORT MAY BE FILED WITHOUT ASSIGNING TO A CLINICIAN FOR ACTION
This report is being issued solely for the purpose of adding a specific code to the clinical record for this patient. This will allow for a SystmOne alert to highlight that this patient had a potentially unreliable result from HbA1c testing at the L&D Hospital during the dates 12th – 17th April, 27th April and/or 1st – 31st July and the need to therefore exercise caution in result interpretation.
The patient is being contacted by the hospital for repeat testing. Practices will be notified if contact is unsuccessful or repeat testing does not take place. Arrangements for acting on repeat results have been agreed with practices.
Q: I have been invited for a retest, how would I know the repeat test is going to be correct this time?
A: The repeat blood sample is going to be sent to another hospital laboratory to be analysed, until we are sure the Luton hospital analysers are performing accurately again.
Q: I have been told by my doctor/ nurse, that I have ‘diabetes/ pre-diabetes’, so is that wrong?
A: If your test was one of the affected ones, it is possible that your doctor/ nurse will have interpreted your condition based on a result that is wrong. It is best that we arrange a repeat test as soon as possible so interpretation can be made on a correct result.
Q: My doctor/ nurse have started me on medication / diet, should I stop these now?
A: Do not stop, but the sooner you can have the repeat test done, the easier it is for us to decide if the decision to put you on medication etc, was necessary or not. Your clinician (doctor/nurse) will be able to advise you once the repeat test is done.
Q: My doctor/ nurse has referred me to a programme for my new diagnosis of diabetes (eg DESMOND education programme, diabetes retinopathy screening) / pre-diabetes (eg NDPP- NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme), should I not go to that?
A: It is difficult to advise on that at the moment as we don’t know what the repeat test result would be. It does no harm to engage in these lifestyle programmes (eg DESMOND/ NDPP) if you’ve already been invited and have an appointment to attend. Or you may wish to postpone your decision until you have had the repeat test result.
Q: I have been referred to the low calorie liquid diet programme (Path to Remission programme) for newly diagnosed diabetes, should I not go to that?
A: It is difficult to advise on that at the moment as we don’t know what the repeat test result would be. As this programme involves a significant amount of intervention on your diet/ lifestyle, I suggest we repeat your test ASAP and discuss your doctor/ nurse if you still require/ are eligible for the programme.
Q: Should I be worried?
A: Although we understand any patient would be concerned to learn their blood test result might have been wrong, it is important not to worry. Once we have the new result we will be able to advise what will happen next.
Q: Have I been affected by this?
A: Over the coming weeks we will be contacting everybody who is affected by this issue. Please do not contact the hospital to ask if your test is one of the affected ones; we will contact you. Only HbA1C tests during certain days in April and July are affected by this issue. If you have had any other blood test recently, then you will not be affected by this.
Q: When will I get the results of my retest?
A: We expect to send a new result to your clinician within 7-14 days of you attending to provide another sample. If your result was normal and has not changed we will write to you and your clinician to tell you this. If necessary, a clinician will make contact with you regarding the result of the new test and will arrange a clinical review where required.