REGINA – The University of Regina is sending out letters to 644 current and former students who may have had blood taken improperly at the school from 2006-2012.
The U of R faculty of Kinesiology and health studies said on Tuesday that improper blood testing procedures had been used for in-class testing with students and on research participants.
The procedure involved a test that used a two-part finger-prick device composed of a lancet and a holder. The school followed a previous standard that involved replacing the lancet for each test but reusing the holder after wiping it with alcohol. A U of R audit determined that several faculties had performed the improper procedure over the past six years.
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“Public health services has assured us that the risks from this situation are very low but we are not going to take any chances. Over the past nine months, we have undertaken a review of the entire university to put together a comprehensive list of every past and current students, research participants and fee for service clients, dating back to 2006, who might have been affected by the procedure,” said Dr. Harold Riemer, Dean of Kinesiology and Health Studies.
The university estimates that around 267 individuals took the improper test between 2006 and 2012 but since the names of the participants were not kept the school is sending out letters to 644 current and former students to make sure that information reaches anyone who might be affected.
“Although the risk of acquiring blood borne infections in the described scenario is very small, we agree that it is the best for the university to proactively inform all persons who may have had an exposure,” said Dr. Maurice Hennick, Deputy Medical Health Officer with Regina Qu’Appelle Health region. “We also caution that measures must immediately be put in place to ensure that a similar incident does occur.”
Dr. Reimer said the risk to individuals is very low, but he also expressed regret for any concern or anxiety the situation could cause.
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