Company recalling diabetes test strips

The testing strips are used to help diabetes patients check their blood sugar levels. Patients receiving inaccurately low measurements could try to raise their blood sugar levels unnecessarily or fail to detect dangerously high blood sugar levels.

The FDA said the problems are caused by a defect that limits the amount of blood absorbed by each strip. North Chicago-based Abbott is recalling 359 lots marketed under a half-dozen brand names, including: Precision Xceed Pro, Precision Xtra, Medisense Optium, Optium, OptiumEZ, and ReliOn Ultima.

Abbott said it will replace the affected test strips at no charge.