Over 100 Patients May Be Affected By Faulty Tests

The Hospital Authority on Sunday said a software glitch affecting diagnostic machines for cancer, HIV and hepatitis may have affected results for as many as 108 patients over the past year.

The software problem is believed to have affected 13 machines at three hospitals since June 2018. Under specific circumstances where the machines are stopped, and restarted, it could give the wrong result.

Experts are now combing through 92 potentially problematic tests from 86 patients, involving cancer and other conditions conducted at Tuen Mun hospital, to see if they need to be re-tested.

Thirty-five HIV and hepatitis tests on 22 patients at Princess Margaret Hospital are also being reviewed, but the authority says the problem did not affect any patient at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

An authority spokesperson said patients will be approached ‘in due course’ if any follow-up action is required.