An internal inquiry has shown that 4,000 blood culture vials supplied by a private company with the expiry date of July 28 had been delivered to the Jinnah Hospital on February 11, their record entered into the stock register on February 20 and used between March 17 and 31.
Under the procurement rules, medical products should have at least 70 per cent shelf life remaining at the time of purchase. According to sources, the vials were approved by the hospital inspection team and included in the stock.
The sources said the daily average of blood culture tests in the hospital is about 100 but the 4,000 vials under investigation were used in 14 days.
They said the inquiry committee had not divulged the patients' data regarding the tests.
A health official suggested a clinical audit of the tests conducted during the period and an inquiry led by external experts.
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