Nova Stat Glucometer Batteries

There was an "Urgent Battery Recall" back in November 2013. The recall notice was to "alert users that Lithium batteries utilized beyond their intended useful life may swell and/or crack the external case posing a potential safety hazard". Prior to August 2012, there were no posted expiration dates on the batteries. I know that there were several here that had swollen. At that time, Nova sent replacements for all batteries that did not have posted dates on them and those with dates that had not reached the date that were showing swelling and the like.

You can Google NovaBiomedical Urgent Battery Recall to see the FDA report.

They also provided a Battery Safety Video. The link is: http://www.brainshark.com/novabio/battery1

I have a feeling that anything in use that has exceeded it expiration date will cause an inspector to frown. It is also a safety issue as swelling or cracking can occur at any time.

Hope this information helps!

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Good morning,

Nova batteries package manufacturer's part is 61829.

4 batteries per pack $105.  Ref: 46827 Stat Strip Stat Sensor Replacement Battery.

Telephone: 8008220911 to order glucose consumables press 1.

Hope that help.

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Anyone doing a contract with Nova should make sure the price of replacement batteries is included in their contract. The original meter comes with a battery, but the docking stations do not. If you sign a multi-year contract with Nova, and have 100 meters, every two years you will be spending upwards of $5K-$10K just to replace the batteries.

Thanks for all the advice and pointers I really appreciate it.  I just want to defend and explain the situation a little here.  I have only been in POC position for 8 months.  I noticed the expired batteries yesterday and asked director what he wanted me to do.  We are preparing for a new contract with new everything within the next couple of months.  I didn't know if we HAD to replace all the batteries and take on that expense when we have new everything coming in the next couple months.  The other issue is that the previous POCC put the batteries into use after expiration date had already passed.  She dated each battery the day she put it in use.  For instance they expired 3/17 she put them in use 12/17.  We have over 50 batteries that are like this...that mistake is going to cost my company a couple grand.  All I know is that this will not happen again under my watch. 

Hello Kammy!

I'm still learning too as I took over POCT last year. My question: isn't the Nova STAT glucometer waived? Does it really matter if the batteries are expired? Just wondered.

I know as laboratorians, anything that's expired we get out immediately.

Thanks,

Julie Brim

It does matter if the batteries are expired.  Over time the batteries swell and they get corrosive, causing a big mess inside the case.

We have our nursing units cover the cost of the batteries.  We are getting ready for our Joint survey, and I just did a sweep, and I removed 29 expired batteries.  We just replaced our old nova meter with the wireless ones.  The new meters came with new batteries, so I am at a loss as to where these old batteries came from.  They must have kept  the old ones on the unit to swipe out the non-charged battery.

My issue with this is that the batteries really are fine past the expiration date if they have not yet been used-what I mean is they won't swell or crack if they have not been used.  So when you get new meters, and you have batteries from the old meter that have not yet expired, you could actually keep the old batteries until their expiration date.  There is not point though, if the new batteries, though not used yet, expire in 2 years anyway. 

Ideally it would be best if the expiration date could be placed on them after when we start to use them, but that isn't possible since Nova already printed the expiration dates on them.

I would think that using expired batteries may also be covered in a Safety Policy for your facility.

The expiration date on batteries is also based I believe on the amount of partial discharge that occurs naturally with batteries.  Over time the battery charge will not last as long as when the battery is new.  Adhering to the expiration date will help to ensure that the battery maintains a sufficient charge to properly operate the meter between charges.