Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kan., is asking the 244 patients who received colonoscopies after Jan. 3 to get blood tests after being treated with potentially contaminated scopes, according to a report from The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Patients will receive blood tests free of charge now and again in six months to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. The hospital will provide all treatments free of charge if any infections occurred as a result of the colonoscopies.
Hospital officials said the chance of contracting a disease is extremely low. However, precautions are being taken because endoscopes may not have been adequately sterilized. The scopes were immersed in a sterilizing fluid before each use, but a small auxiliary water channel was not flushed out.
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