Hamilton COVID-19 testing clinic investigates “missing tests”

An Ontario student had to receive her second PCR test of the week after her first test had been part of a batch that has allegedly gone missing at a Hamilton Health Science Centre (HHSC) COVID-19 testing site.

“My daughter was tested for COVID at Hamilton Health Science Centre’s West End Clinic on Monday,” wrote her mother in an email to CityNews.

The Hamilton-area resident told CityNews that her daughter was notified through her school that she had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. She was advised to take a PCR test which she did on Monday, December 13.

After a few days of waiting with no update on the results of the test, they contacted the clinic several times.

She alleges that they eventually received a call back from a department at HHSC four days later, informing the pair that a number of test results from Monday had been lost and that her daughter would need to be retested.

“We emphasized on the phone that we needed this test result before I could go to work which is why they finally disclosed the information on Thursday,” she added.

CityNews reached out to Hamilton Health Science’s Centre asking if in fact COVID-19 PCR tests have been misplaced or gone missing, and if those who were impacted have been notified.

The clinic said that the 42 tests which had allegedly gone missing, had actually been analyzed, but due to a processing error, the results were not reported in the lab system.

A spokesperson said all the tests were negative for COVID-19 and all affected individuals were originally informed of the missing tests. They are also in the process of providing them with an update regarding their test result.

“We are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience and extended wait this has caused to those affected. A through process review is underway to ensure this does not happen again,” read a statement.

They are advising anyone who continues to be symptomatic to get re-tested as well.