Society

Health chiefs investigate false HIV results

By Wang Qingyun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-18 14:04

Health authorities in East China's Jiangsu province have begun investigating a false HIV diagnosis made in 2009, Beijing Times reported Monday.

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Wu Changdong, 36, who is a native of Pizhou, Jiangsu province, donated 400 cc of blood to a collection station in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, on Nov 5, 2009.

The next day Wu received a call from Pizhou Center of Disease Prevention and Control, informing him that he was HIV positive.

"I didn't understand how I got HIV. I'm no casual man," said Wu, who was devastated by the news and had three blood tests in the following month. All the results showed he was HIV negative.

Wu went to the blood collection station several times, asking for his name to be cleared. However, Deng, an employee in charge, said the station tested Wu's blood twice, both showing in positive result, before reporting their findings.

"Pizhou Center of Disease Prevention and Control should know a blood collection station is not qualified to diagnose HIV/AIDS, and should conduct further examination," said Deng.

Deng said about 10 blood donors test positive for HIV in Changzhou every year, most of which turn out to be false due to the sensitivities of the testing machine.

Pizhou Center of Disease Prevention and Control, however, denied the notion. A man named Hu, who informed Wu about his HIV-positive diagnosis, said the report from the blood collection center already confirmed Wu's test result as HIV-positive, thus further examination was not needed, "According to the procedure, we don't need to do another test."

The health department of Jiangsu province has ordered health departments in charge to investigate the case.