Error leaves 55,000 diabetes patients needing new tests

In September 2024, a message on the Bedfordshire trust website said 11,000 patients needed to be re-tested.

It warned some of them could have been misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes as a result of problems with tests analysed at the hospital's laboratory.

The trust apologised "for any emotional distress and inconvenience".

In July 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it had received reports describing a positive bias delivered by the Trinity Biotech machines.

This resulted in some patients being incorrectly diagnosed as pre-diabetic or diabetic.

NHS trusts are already recalling patients for repeat tests and NHS England says anyone who needs a repeat test will be contacted by their GP or local hospital.

It adds that, for people who may have been wrongly diagnosed as a result of this issue, the risk is low and they would be given lifestyle advice and offered support programmes first.

Metformin, which may have been mistakenly prescribed for some of these patients, works by lowering blood sugar levels by improving the way the body handles insulin.

If you experience these symptoms whilst taking diabetes medication:

The advice is to seek medical attention immediately.