After Peterborough Public Health reported on Friday (May 1) that 22 positive COVID-19 test results were affected by a technical error at Bio-Test Laboratories in Ottawa, another local health unit is reporting that 13 of its positive test results have also been affected by the same error.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit sent 13 specimens from staff and residents of two long-term care homes in the City of Kawartha Lakes to Bio-Test Laboratories for testing. Bio-Test has advised that a technical error has resulted in a decision by the lab to reject all COVID-19 positive test results performed last weekend.
There is a concern that these results may have shown a positive test result when they were in fact negative.
The positive results received prompted the health unit to declare COVID-19 outbreaks in Case Manor in Bobcaygeon and Adelaide Place in Lindsay. The health unit has notified the 13 people of the questionable test results.
Additional testing is being conducted immediately. The swabs are being sent to a different lab and test results are expected this weekend.
“While we hope these cases actually do test negative, this error and misdiagnosis is very unfortunate for the individuals and their families,” says Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, medical officer of health for the HKPR District Health Unit.
“Many of these individuals live in Bobcaygeon and we know how devastating COVID-19 has been for that community already, so we are hopeful we will receive some good news with the new test results and can lift our outbreak declaration at these long-term care homes.”
This reporting error will also impact the close contacts of these cases. The health unit recommends that anyone identified as a close contact of these individuals should continue their isolation and self-monitoring until the results of the retesting have been received.
The health unit says all contacts can expect to hear from a public health nurse for further guidance.
