Battery Impacting Abbott Freestyle Glucose Meter Integrity

YES!  I noticed when we switched to the Procell Intense, we had meters being reported as "unable to turn on" but when I attempted to trouble-shoot, they would always turn on.  I reported the issue to Abbott and to our equipment control (CES) group.  Our CES said other departments experienced some issues with the INTENSE also so they submitted a complaint with Duracell.
After investigation, Duracell concluded the issues that we encountered were due to the wrapper being pierced on the negative terminal when installing and handling the batteries.  This was causing a short circuit in the cells.

Duracell was going to look at the wrapper and potentially change the design a little to make them more difficult to pierce when installing / handling.

To date I am not aware of any further issues, and I have noticed that the wrapper is a little thicker and pulls a little tighter to the negative terminal on newer lots of batteries.

Amanda,
Thank you for sharing your discovery.  I have been switching over back to the Energizer batteries on the units that I have been called to repair.  While reviewing my critical documentation I am also seeing patterns that might be a coincidence or not.  A nurse would run a sample with a <30 mg/dL result and upon rerunning another sample at the same time on the same patient, get a value as 110 mg/dl, but hardly a repeat at < 30 mg/dl on the FSPP.  If this is related to the battery, then we are on the fringe of a medical device issue that may need to be reported.  If there are others seeing a similar issue, please chime in on this discussion.  Thank you.

We had been seeing issues with the PremierPro batteries over the past couple of years (not sure if that is the same manufacturer or not - they are green in color) that were resolved by removing them and replacing with Duracell.  I have not heard much lately, and I believe that is still what is being provided to the units, so maybe they have addressed their issues?

Recently, I have been experiencing error code 1717 (not enough power, change battery) on replacement meters from Abbott that arrived with Energizer Lithium batteries. When I switched them out with our PROCELL CONSTANT batteries, all meters were fine.  Just reported this to Abbott TS along with a general summation of concerns from you all and Duracell's response regarding the battery covering.  Will let you know if Abbott responds!

Has anyone received a more conclusive update on this issue?
We are still stocking the Procell INTENSE batteries and I continue to receive meters regularly returned to me with staff reporting either "unable to turn on- even post battery change" or "strip not detected- port replacement needed".  Often, I replace the batteries with Procell CONSTANT and meter turns on and QC runs fine.  Granted, the meter typically sits for at least a day or two before I attempt to troubleshoot- maybe that makes a difference?  Anyone come up with any real solutions or received more answers to this issue?

Amanda, 
Our resolution was to replace the FSPP batteries with Energizers.  The Procell are made by Duracell and is supposed to be an equivalent to the retail product, but we found it to be inferior.  We still find these batteries in our devices, as the hospital does bring in for other instruments.  We also have heard failures from other hospital devices when using this battery.  If you run wirelessly, I think this drains the battery even more when it roams to find a router it can connect.  I find some hospital units have more of an issue than other, even with similar testing volumes.  Hope this helps.

I am curious if meter firmware has any bearing on this issue?  I have updated most of my meters to the latest firmware and I am seeing these issues regularly.  My other sister hospitals have not updated their meter firmware and are not reporting these issues.  Anyone have any thoughts on firmware playing a part here?

Amanda,
This may be evident in a reason why.  We have reached out to Abbott, but they have not really seen the connection with the battery and failure.  Having the firmware as another variable could also help to be the clue to resolving this issue.  I also saw a reduction is strip port errors.  Same operators, same devices and same process, but for a while we were truly having an increase strip port error.  Upon inspection, many did not seem to have control material, bleach or blood in the port. They looked pretty clean. That may have masked the battery issue as well as a possible strip port module issue.  I asked Abbott if there were any changes to the manufacturing of the strip port.  No clear answer.  I am also getting a lot of <30 mg/dL results and upon rerun on the same device a normal value (at least not < 30mg/dL). Same operator, same device, same strip lot.  Anyone seen this type of behavior with your Abbott FSPP?