Table 5

The main characteristics of the reviewed publications on the quality of SMBG supplies

Study	Sampling method	Location	Findings
LifeScan, 2006 LifeScan, 2006 Blackwell, 2007 Bloomberg News, 2007 US FDA, 200615 43 44 59 120	Manufacturer investigation (sampling technique unspecified), recall/alert	USA, Canada	Falsified glucose strips imported from China sold in the USA and Canada resulting in incorrect reading. Six lots identified.
Castel and Breillat, 200855	Recall/alert	France	SorF glucose strips: overestimation of blood glucose level, 4 lots affected.
Cheng, 2009121	No sampling	USA	Global review on falsified medical products used in diabetes treatment.
Platt, 200946	Recall/alert	USA	Expired and recalled glucose strips were sold by the company that was supposed to recycle them.
LifeScan, 2010122	Manufacturer investigation (sampling technique unspecified)	Egypt	Falsified glucose strips giving highly inaccurate results or failing to give result.
Health Sciences Authority, Singapore, 201042	Recall/alert	Singapore	SorF glucose strips: underestimation of blood glucose concentrations.
MacDonald, 201056	Recall/alert	France	SorF glucose strips: underestimation of blood glucose level, 1 lot affected.
Agence Nationale de la Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé, 2011(a)53	Recall/alert	France	SorF glucose strips: resulting in overestimation of blood glucose level, 1 lot affected.
Agence Nationale de la Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé, 2011(b)52	Recall/alert	France	Degraded glucose strips: due to accidental opening of flasks during transport, possible inaccurate result.
Health Sciences Authority, Singapore, 201149	Recall/alert	Singapore	SorF glucose strips: can give inaccurate reading.
Loftus, 201147	Recall/alert	India, Pakistan	Falsified glucose strips manufactured in China were found in India. Falsified strips were also found in 2009.
Mori et al, 201127	No sampling	N/A	A review discussing medical device quality in resource-limited settings.
LifeScan, 2013123	Manufacturer investigation (sampling technique unspecified)	Greece	Falsified glucose strips: 7 lots found.
NBC News, 201354	Recall/alert	USA	Substandard glucose strips: chemical contamination of strips distributed to 13 countries.
US FDA, 201357	Case report	USA	SorF glucose meter and strips: overestimation of blood glucose concentrations
US FDA, 201348 58	Recall/alert	USA	Twenty-one lots of SorF glucose strips were found. When used, the strips showed incorrectly low readings.
LifeScan, 2015124	Manufacturer investigation (sampling technique unspecified)	Bangladesh	Falsified glucose strips: 5 lots found.
LifeScan, 2015125	Manufacturer investigation (sampling technique unspecified)	India	Falsified glucose strips: possible falsification within 4 lot numbers.
FDA News, 201645	Recall/alert	UK	Improperly sealed glucose strips found circulating.
Nipro Asia Pte Ltd, 201651	Recall/alert	Singapore	Degraded glucose strips: may give inaccurate result. Degraded due to opened vials during transport, 6 lots affected.
PTS Diagnostics, 201650	Recall/alert	Singapore	SorF glucose strips: giving inaccurate reading
LifeScan, unknown60	Manufacturer investigation (sampling technique unspecified)	Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Greece, India and UAE	Describing falsified LifeScan glucose strips.
LifeScan, unknown61	No sampling	N/A	Manufacturer policies to fight poor quality medicines through four processes, namely: distribution, identification, enforcement, prevention.
SafeMedicines, unknown126	No sampling	USA, Canada, India, Egypt, Pakistan	Articles discussing falsified medical products used in the treatment of diabetes (including glucose strips) found globally.

FDA, Food and Drug Administration; N/A, not applicable; SMBG, self-monitoring of blood glucose; SorF, substandard or falsified; UAE, United Arab Emirates.