The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an alarm over the circulation of counterfeit Accu-Chek Instant Test Strips discovered in Jos, Plateau State, warning of severe health risks to users.
According to a statement posted on the agency’s website on May 8, 2025, the counterfeit test strips bear falsified expiration dates, fraudulently extending the shelf life of an already expired product. The original batch expired in October 2024, but the fake version has been re-labelled with a new expiration date of December 2025.
NAFDAC’s investigation revealed that both the counterfeit and original products carry the same batch number (302244), but with different manufacturing and reference details. The counterfeit strips are marked with a new manufacturing date of May 16, 2023, and a reference number 510542426288—unlike the genuine product manufactured on January 3, 2023, with reference number 07819382134.
The agency warned that using these counterfeit test strips could lead to dangerously inaccurate blood glucose readings. Such errors may result in incorrect insulin or medication doses, placing diabetic patients at risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
“Consumers are strongly advised to purchase only verified Accu-Chek products from authorized vendors,” the agency cautioned, urging patients and healthcare professionals to remain vigilant. The public is also encouraged to report suspicious products via NAFDAC’s official platforms, including its website and the Med-Safety App.
To combat the crisis, all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to intensify surveillance efforts and root out falsified medical products across the country.
Importers, distributors, retailers, and caregivers have been instructed to source only from licensed suppliers and always verify the authenticity of medical devices before use.
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring that only safe, effective medical products are available in Nigeria.
