Reported Reactions

Devices › System, test, blood glucose, over the counter

Device brand name · Blood glucose monitoring system

Medisense Optium: medical device reports filed with FDA

1,369 reports name it, 2005–2018. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Abbott Diabetes Care. Product code NBW.

1,369
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 65 a year
0
reports, 12 months to August 2026
0 in the 12 months before
90.8%
classified as malfunction
90.4% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 1,369 reports that name the brand "Medisense Optium" (blood glucose monitoring system), received between June 2005 and November 2018; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Abbott Diabetes Care. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

0 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, and none in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are malfunction (90.8%) and injury (9.2%); across all system, test, blood glucose, over the counter reports (product code NBW) death is recorded in 0% and malfunction in 90.4%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are nonstandard device (78.8%), incorrect or inadequate test results (20.5%) and filling problem (15.2%). The patient problems coded most often are loss of consciousness, hypoglycemia and hospitalization required. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

No report naming Medisense Optium was received in the five years to August 2026; the latest was received in November 2018.

By year received

04829642005: 1220052006: 8720062007: 6820072008: 3120082009: 1920092010: 5820102011: 96420112012: 12220122016: 420162018: 42018

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury9.2%126
Malfunction90.8%1,243
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%1,369
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 431,760 reports carrying product code NBW. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Nonstandard device1,07978.8%1.2%
Incorrect or inadequate test results28020.5%9.2%
Filling problem20815.2%0.9%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly1289.3%4.4%
False reading from device non-compliance644.7%1.1%
High test results463.4%6.2%
Low test results443.2%2.5%
Defective devicethe device was defective231.7%0.1%
Device displays incorrect message151.1%24%
Erratic or intermittent display50.4%0.1%
Device expiration issue40.3%0.2%
Device inoperablethe device could not be used40.3%0.5%
Device issuea problem with the device40.3%0.1%
Failure to power up40.3%19.5%
No display/image40.3%2%
Insufficient device problem information30.2%0.8%
Replace30.2%3.8%
Unable to obtain readings30.2%0.6%
Calibration error20.1%0%
Defective component20.1%0.1%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Loss of consciousnesspassing out584.2%
Hypoglycemialow blood sugar533.9%
Hospitalization required423.1%
Therapy/non-surgical treatment, additional402.9%
Treatment with medication(s)382.8%
Hyperglycemiahigh blood sugar322.3%
Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness302.2%
Shaking/tremors261.9%
Blurred vision151.1%
Sweating141%
Elevated ketones/ diabetic ketoacidosis130.9%
Fatiguetiredness130.9%
Nauseafeeling sick130.9%
Seizures120.9%
Vertigoa spinning sensation120.9%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureMedisense OptiumProduct code NBWAll MAUDE reports
Reports1,369431,76026,136,888
Share of that pool—0.3%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports009
Classified as injury9.2%8.8%36.2%
Classified as malfunction90.8%90.4%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99.3%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code NBW

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Ot Verio Iq Meter93,04100%
Ot Verio2 Meter45,29400%
Ot Ping Meter38,81700%
Ot Ultralink Meter26,21700%
Ot Verio Flex Meter13,50300%
Precision Xtra11,69660.1%
FreeStyle Lite12,2444300%
FreeStyle Freedom Lite11,0286940%
Neo Meter Optium FreeStyle10,6911320%
FreeStyle Precision Neo10,407350%
Ot Verio Pro Meter6,71600%
Ot Verio Test Strips6,35100%
One Touch Ultralink Meter5,99400%
Ot Ultra2 Meter5,14200%
Ot Ping Enhanced Meter5,08000%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about Medisense Optium reports

How many FDA reports name Medisense Optium?

1,369 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 0 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (90.8%) and injury (9.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

nonstandard device (78.8%), incorrect or inadequate test results (20.5%), filling problem (15.2%), device operates differently than expected (9.3%) and false reading from device non-compliance (4.7%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Medisense Optium was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.