A Boston lab suspended coronavirus testing after an investigation uncovered nearly 400 false positive COVID-19 results.
Orig3n, a biotechnology company which counts dozens of nursing homes as its clients, ceased testing on Aug. 8 at the request of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The suspension came days after state health officials became aware of an unusually high number of positive coronavirus tests.
An investigation found that there were at least 383 inaccurate positive results from the lab that, upon re-testing, came back as negative.
On Aug. 27, the MDPH said it notified Orig3n they had been cited with "three significant certification deficiencies that put patients at immediate risk of harm."
"The Boston lab is required to respond with a written plan of correction, and if action is not taken it can face sanctions," a health department spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.
The health department said roughly 60 nursing homes either still are or have been clients of Orig3n.
One of the nursing homes that did receive false positive results was the Pines Edge nursing center at the North Hill Retirement Community in Needham, Massachusetts. Ted Owens, president and CEO of North Hill, told NBC News in a statement Wednesday that on Aug. 3 Pines Edge was notified that 18 employees and one resident had tested positive for the virus.
Unaware that the tests were inaccurate, the facility moved the resident into isolation and the employees were sent home with paid sick leave.
"We notified our community of residents, family members and employees about the situation, which understandably caused significant concern. The costs to the facility were also significant," Owens said in his statement. "The false positive results created tremendous fear and anxiety among employees, residents and the family members of both."
On Aug. 10, following two rounds of re-testing that returned negative results, the facility was allowed to move the resident out of isolation and the employees could return to work.
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Orig3n, a biotechnology company which counts dozens of nursing homes as its clients, ceased testing on Aug. 8 at the request of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The suspension came days after state health officials became aware of an unusually high number of positive coronavirus tests.
An investigation found that there were at least 383 inaccurate positive results from the lab that, upon re-testing, came back as negative.
On Aug. 27, the MDPH said it notified Orig3n they had been cited with "three significant certification deficiencies that put patients at immediate risk of harm."
"The Boston lab is required to respond with a written plan of correction, and if action is not taken it can face sanctions," a health department spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News on Wednesday.
The health department said roughly 60 nursing homes either still are or have been clients of Orig3n.
One of the nursing homes that did receive false positive results was the Pines Edge nursing center at the North Hill Retirement Community in Needham, Massachusetts. Ted Owens, president and CEO of North Hill, told NBC News in a statement Wednesday that on Aug. 3 Pines Edge was notified that 18 employees and one resident had tested positive for the virus.
Unaware that the tests were inaccurate, the facility moved the resident into isolation and the employees were sent home with paid sick leave.
"We notified our community of residents, family members and employees about the situation, which understandably caused significant concern. The costs to the facility were also significant," Owens said in his statement. "The false positive results created tremendous fear and anxiety among employees, residents and the family members of both."
On Aug. 10, following two rounds of re-testing that returned negative results, the facility was allowed to move the resident out of isolation and the employees could return to work.
Coronavirus testing at Boston lab suspended after nearly 400 false positives
An investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found that there were at least 383 erroneous positive results.
