Hamilton COVID lab mixup leads to 31 incorrect results

A Hamilton COVID lab says it mixed up 31 test results.

In a release Sunday evening, the Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program (HRLMP) said a processing error" led to 16 COVID-positive people being told they were negative and 15 who were COVID-negative being told they were positive.

The affected tests were administered in Hamilton, Burlington and the surrounding area on Dec. 30 and 31. They were processed at HRLMP, a joint program run by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences.

All 31 people have been contacted and provided with their true test result, the release states. It's not clear when they were notified or when the HRLMP learned of the mixup. The release states those affected have been provided with guidance" and public health is now conducting contact tracing.

It's also unclear what the processing error involved.

We sincerely apologize for the impact on those who have received incorrect test results," said Dr. Marek Smieja, interim chief of HRLMP, in the release.

The release states that since March, the lab has performed upwards of 350,000 tests and is currently processing up to 2,500 tests each day.

HRLMP continually monitors and evaluates its processes to ensure it meets or exceeds standards of care and regulatory requirements," the release states.

More to come ...

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com