False results from HIV testing devices investigation

It has been discovered that certain devices manufactured by Hangzhou Biotest Biotech Co Ltd were giving incorrect results – false positives and / or false negatives – when testing for HIV, HCV and HBV.

These tests are used in professional clinical settings, which include Sexual health clinics, General Practitioners, Genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, health care professionals using the devices, and purchasing managers.

Obviously this is a serious concern, particularly where someone has been given a negative diagnosis when they may actually be positive.

Action being taken

All health care professionals and clinics have been told to to stop using the devices and to identify and dispose of the devices that have been affected. They must also contact patients who have been tested with the devices for retesting, and ensure that all relevant members of staff understand the problem and actions that they must take.

The deadline for all the action to be carried out by is the 16 August 2016.

The seriousness of the issue

For someone that has been tested, they could have been given inaccurate results. This could mean people who have HIV, HCV and HBV may have told that they do not have it. This would mean that they go untreated for the viruses, and that they could also end up passing on to other people inadvertently.

Due to the severity of these illnesses, they can be life changing. If someone was to be told they did not have HIV, HCV or HBV, but they actually did, this could be detrimental to not only the person who was tested, but also to other people.

It can be similar for those who have been tested for any of the viruses and told that they have it when they in fact do not. Being told that you have the HIV virus or any of the others can have a huge emotional impact on a person’s life, and can severely affect some relationships. It can also mean having to start taking medication they should never have had to take in the first place.

We represent the majority of those who are claiming as former patients of former Nottingham dentist Dr D’Mello who was found to have seriously breached infection control protocols, putting up to 22,000 patients at risk of serious blood infections from cross-contamination.

Our expertise and experience in this area is extensive.

Making a claim

Group Action claims can be a very complex area of law. We have agreed to investigate this issue further, and if a group action claim needs to be made, we can put it forward.

We specialise in group actions claims with particular experience with medical and infection claims, and have been involved in some of the biggest group actions in the world.

If you have suffered due to the HIV, HCV and HBV tests we urge you to contact us as you may be entitled to compensation.