Point of Care Glucometers
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HI,
My organization currently uses Roche Accu-Chek Inform II glucometers. I am looking at the possibility of changing to a different glucometer once our contract ends. Any recommendations?
Stacie
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When we first got our NOVA meters in 2009, the batteries did not have expiration date. They also got puffy. They did not explode but they can cause fire ( like a cell phone) since they are lithium batteries. After 2 years, they solved the problem and we do not have the "puffy battery" problem anymore.
I called NOVA today to clarify why they have expiration date on the batteries and did not have them before. I was told that FDA mandated them to have expiration date on their batteries. They did not send out a memo or bulletin about batteries but just like Debra Howard said, I would not use expired batteries because they may pose some safety hazard.
I think it was our Biomed who told me that we cannot use batteries pass their expiration dates because of our Safety policy on medical equipment.
I also do not want the inspector to cite me on using expired batteries.
When we first got our NOVA meters in 2009, the batteries did not have expiration date. They also got puffy. They did not explode but they can cause fire ( like a cell phone) since they are lithium batteries. After 2 years, they solved the problem and we do not have the "puffy battery" problem anymore.
I called NOVA today to clarify why they have expiration date on the batteries and did not have them before. I was told that FDA mandated them to have expiration date on their batteries. They did not send out a memo or bulletin about batteries but just like Debra Howard said, I would not use expired batteries because they may pose some safety hazard.
I think it was our Biomed who told me that we cannot use batteries pass their expiration dates because of our Safety policy on medical equipment.
I also do not want the inspector to cite me on using expired batteries.
We also use the Nova Glucose meters and experienced the same issue with "expanding" batteries that were beyond their expiration date. We didn't realize they had expiration dates until we had this issue. We also noticed that when they go beyond their expiration dates the meters may present with different functionality issues. So we definitely started monitoring this for that purpose. It's an extra expense (roughly every 2 years)that NOVA doesn't tell you about upfront, so if you're looking to move to the NOVA meters keep that in mind to include replacement batteries in your contract.
As far as inspections go, my feeling is that if a CAP inspector is aware of this sort of thing and discovers expired batteries in a meter, they could cite you under COM.30525-Maintenance and Function Checks.
Nova provided replacements for our facility, however note that with every POC device there is a recommended battery replacement. I now have all our POC devices on a battery change schedule. The lithium battery issue is a much bigger safety issue. I shared my experience with leadership and got no real interest until a bunch of our workstations on wheels went down about the same time. Same issue, lithium batteries. Costly troubleshooting and repairs, could have been avoided.
Would you share the glucose rules you have held in the Telcor exception Q for POC review before it is sent to the EMR?
Ex Glucose results <10, do the results go to the EMR, auto-verify or held in exception Q?