Nova StatStrip Random Restart

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Is anyone having issues with Nova StatStrip meters randomly restarting? We have been getting several complaints from end users, Nova thinks it may be an issue with the batteries. Just curious if anyone else is having the same issue and what has been the resolution?

Shea Woodward, BS, MLT Advanced (ASCP)

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ICCE

Medical University of South Carolina

(843)792-4007, EH213

Pgr. 1-8012

13 Replies

Max Mauch

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:37AM

Yes, I've had the same issue just starting recently (last few months). Tech support told me that it is an issue in ill-fitting batteries that have expiration dates "around 2025". I am having our rep look into it to get some real date ranges and I will be pushing for some no charge batteries for replacement.

Katherine Johnston

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:38AM

All the time. For us, it's been happening since we made the switch over to the wireless model back in early 2021. I don't think it's an issue with batteries. It almost seems positionally based, like when the meter gets set down, it either goes to black or to the blue start up screen. Very frustrating for end users when they are in the middle of fingersticks. I have documented quite a few of these and I feel like it might be time to question Nova on what the root cause may be.

Edited after learning from you guys:
Wow!! Actually - based on everyone else's response here - it is the battery! I'm going to contact Nova today to see if they can provide us with new batteries - instead of swapping out meters everytime like they have been!

Pam Hughes

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:42AM

We have seen an issue with loose batteries in the past and this very thing has happened. Sometimes it is because the battery prongs have become bent.
We have recently seen an issue with the screen freezing up, and sometimes randomly restarting, sometimes not, when the meter screen is being cleaned. The wiping back and forth three times in two directions seems to confuse the touch screen...not all the time, but sometimes.

Shea Woodward

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:43AM

Max,
Our rep is also looking into this, we were told expiration dates around "2024".

Jimmy Quijada

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:46AM

I also believe the issue is the batteries. Some may not have been made to spec and slip out. You can tell that some will not stay on their own with the battery cover off. Others will sit snug and remain on the meter without the cover on. I believe that the battery slips contact as the meters get set down and cause the restart. Perhaps putting some strips of electrical tape on the inside of the battery cover plate to butt up against the battery may do the trick to keep them in place. Replacing the batteries would be ideal.

Lisa Bain

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:51AM

I agree that i think the problem lies with the battery or the design of the battery compartment causing the meter to turn off when it is set down. I've actually gotten a few replacement meters due to this problem, but i will start to look into the age of the batteries in case there has been some subtle change that may contribute to the problem.

Andrea Kelley

Fri Oct 28, 2022 at 8:54AM

Yep we have been having issues. It is batteries are loose and it is multiple expiration dates from 2023-2025. Basically the batteries are slipping out when meters are set down. I have noticed batteries with an expiration date of 2029 fit in nice and tight. We typically replace the batteries with a different expiration and it seems to fix the problem.

Adonica Wilson

Mon Oct 31, 2022 at 11:04AM

We had to replace all our batteries with new ones because of this issue. We had ones we hadn't even used that expired in 2024 but if you put them side by side with the new ones the are a little bit shorter. The new ones we had to buy because Nova wouldn't replace them :( are exp date of 2029.

Autilia Sisti

Tue Nov 01, 2022 at 7:30AM

In the past (year or so), I have actually called to Nova stating the very same types of issue- and they told me that "they had not heard from anyone else complaining about loose batteries".
But our newest batch of batteries- seem to fit much better.....
This is absolutely a battery manufacturing issue- that seems to have been corrected.... without Nova taking ownership.

Jean Roper

Mon Nov 07, 2022 at 2:46PM

We have had NOVA only since last November. I called several meters in for "restarting" and then I was told that the batteries needed to be switched out. Over a couple months, i rec'd all 325 new batteries. Only do I occasionally have issues with restarts now. My meters were in use only about 6 months at the time we switched them out.

Edit: my original batteries expire 08/25 and the lot started with X. The newer ones I rec'd start with Z or AA.
I red-dotted them to make sure I could easily see if they were original or new battery.

Autilia Sisti

Mon Nov 07, 2022 at 2:57PM

Jean- that is very interesting. Because of these posts, last week I had my Nova technical person on the line (about another question) and I asked about the battery issue- his response to me was to return any meter whose battery is loose, because the issue is with the meter battery housing and not the battery. So that is what we have been doing as of this week- when a loose battery comes down to us, we are returning the meters for a replacement.

Shea Woodward

Tue Nov 08, 2022 at 5:30AM

Thanks for everyone's feedback. We are going to be replacing older batteries, the newer one's fit much tighter in the devices.

Shonda Stamps

Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 7:18PM

Yes! It is very frustrating. When I first called NOVA, they acted as if they had not heard of the issue. After several calls I finally got someone to tell me it was the batteries. My current batteries don't expire until 2025. She sent me a pack of 5 to try and replace. I did not notice that the size was different. I replaced the battery in one of the meters on the floor that they complained about all the time and to my knowledge it has not occurred again. So, apparently the battery is the problem! The new batteries sent to me expire 2029. I think NOVA should replace all the batteries at no charge!

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Nova StatStrip Random Restart