Expired blood test vials found

Use of expired blood culture vials for diagnostic tests of patients in the Jinnah Hospital and Allama Iqbal Medical College has been detected by Principal Dr Tayeba Waseem during an inspection.

According to internal, pathology lab staff had re-labeled blood culture vials that had expired in 2022 with counterfeit stickers showing a new expiry date of July 28 this year.

They said a 45-year-old patient, Nasser Ali suffering from fever and infection, had been handed an expired vial on Saturday for a prescribed blood culture test.

Complaints from patients triggered an inspection by College Principal Dr Tayeba Waseem who found several expired vials in the lab.

She confirmed that additional questionable stock remained in the lab's inventory.

The sources said the Head of Pathology, Dr Munazza Natiq, argued that blood culture vials could be used up to six months past their expiry date.

The sources said staff members related to pathology, the lab, purchase, store and inspection were suspected of being involved in the malpractice.

The hospital lab performs more than 100 blood culture tests daily that guide antibiotic treatments.

Infectious disease specialists warn that using expired vials can produce misleading results, leading to inappropriate medication.

Calling the incident "a serious and heartbreaking breach of trust," Professor Tayeba Waseem vowed strict legal action against everyone involved.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the provincial health secretary to immediately launch an investigation into the matter. .

The health department has formed a five-member inquiry committee led by Dr Farhat Naz, with Professor Farooq Ahmed Rana, Ashraf Zia, Muhammad Irshad and Zaherud Din Babar as members.