Health officials in Quebec are looking for people they believe were checked for diabetes last week with a device that apparently tested some with the same needle.

The names of the 150 people tested were not taken, but health officials say about 100 of them have been located.

Last week, a public health group, Diabetes Quebec, offered free diabetes tests at a grocery store in Thetford Mines, about 100 kilometres south of Quebec City.

There is only a small risk of contracting hepatitis B and C, say health officials, who urge people to be tested as quickly as possible. The risk of HIV also exists but is minimal given the type of needle used.

The test was administered by two students who were training to be nurse practitioners, and they had little medical supervision.

The Accu-chek glucometer that was used is intended for individual, home use, not for a mass scale.

The device has a cartridge of six needles that is supposed to be turned to use a new needle on every patient. The machine did not seem to be working, so the same needle was used for six people, and the problem was repeated, public health officials said.  

Health officials are now investigating how it happened and will likely recommend guidelines for using the free tests.

Both Roche Diagnostics, the maker of the device, and Health Canada have been advised.

The company said the device was misused, and was not faulty.