Hospital's lapse or technical glitch? Corona-positive cases turning negative in Udupi


Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 30: Three coronavirus positive cases here were tested negative during the second tests. Could this be a goof up by the laboratory or technical glitch? Difficult to say.

The recent upswing in the number of coronavirus cases in the district has made people panicky. Indecisive and confusing orders of the government have only contributed to confound the apprehension of the people. On the other hand, positive cases are turning negative very fast.

The district administration, health department, ASHA workers and police department have been very busy chasing primary and secondary infection suspects. This is in addition to the ones already quarantined. In the recent development, six persons had displayed symptoms of coronavirus even though they did not have any contact with infected persons.

A 17-year-old girl from Chitradurga had got admitted into KMC Hospital Manipal for cancer treatment on May 16. On May 19, she tested positive for coronavirus. The test was conducted at Wenlock Hospital Mangaluru. Later, two tests conducted at KMC laboratory within a gap of 24 hours gave negative results. Therefore, the girl was treated for cancer, by treating her as not a coronavirus patient.

In another case, a woman from Karkala who was in the final stages of her pregnancy, was found infected even though she had no contact with suspects, on May 24. Many including her family members were quarantined. The district administration could not find the source of infection. Her throat swab samples were sent for testing and the report received on May 29 was negative.

In one more case, a 30-year-old employee of Swachha Bharat Mission of zilla panchayat displayed symptoms of the disease on May 17. He was subjected to throat swab test at Wenlock laboratory on May 18 and his result received on May 24 gave positive result. He was looked after in isolation ward thereafter. In the test conducted on May 29, his report was negative.

Because of positive results, salons in Kaup and Katapady were closed and throat swabs of nine of his family members were tested. As a precaution, the entire Moodbabettu village in Kaup taluk was declared as containment zone. The zilla panchayat office was given a day's holiday.

The pregnant woman and zilla panchayat staff have since been discharged. But because of the mistakes like the above, efforts put in by health and police departments went waste.

Many had earlier expressed doubts about the accuracy of tests conducted at Wenlock Hospital Mangaluru. In case where the three cases from Udupi district where positives turned negative, tests were conducted in that laboratory. As there is always a sense of worry about wrong reports being generated, the district administration needs to handle this matter diligently.

On a query about people testing negative in second swab tests, Udupi deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha on Saturday said that they were taking second opinion to clear doubts. “We cannot say it is the mistake of the lab. Once we get negative result in second test, we will follow government rules accordingly. We have conducted test of quarantined persons before releasing them from the center. If they get any symptoms during home quarantine, they should report it to the health department first,” he said.

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai

    Sun, May 31 2020

    The test reports are correctly obtained if all specifications are meticulously followed by trained technicians including collection of swab, fool proof tagging, cold box transportation, storage, professionally trained pathologists etc,; also the make & type of kit accounts; added to it the results also depend on viral load during swab collection! Considering all this, & the callous standards we may follow during mass testing will give results which are not dependable unless done twice in independent land with different kits!
    IMHO, asymptomatic negative patients should not be quarantined; only highly symptomatic & positive patients need help!
    Our protocols should have been based on expert epidemiologists rather than modelers which has been a failure!
    In fact countries like Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand who do not follow WHO protocol has seen the least amount of deaths! WHOs predictions of lacs of deaths in India has failed miserably!
    IMHO, most deaths that have occurred are those with serious comorbidities or adverse drug reactions! Also ventilator support should be given case by case basis with great care & not generically!!
    The above is a very personal opinion only, please do your own research!

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence G Misquith, MANGALORE -575002

    Sun, May 31 2020

    OMG this is a serious mistake and negligence on the part of Government hospital labs. I request doctors to double check the Lab reports with the simtoms of the patients before declaring him/her positive or negative of corona virus. hope our Governments will wake up on this issue.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai

    Sun, May 31 2020

    The test reports are correctly obtained if all specifications are meticulously followed by trained technicians including collection of swab, fool proof tagging, cold box transportation, storage, professionally trained pathologists etc,; also the make & type of kit accounts; added to it the results also depend on viral load during swab collection! Considering all this, & the callous standards we may follow during mass testing will give results which are not dependable unless done twice in independent land with different kits!
    IMHO, asymptomatic negative patients should not be quarantined; only highly symptomatic & positive patients need help!
    Our protocols should have been based on expert epidemiologists rather than modelers which has been a failure!
    In fact countries like Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand who do not follow WHO protocol has seen the least amount of deaths! WHOs predictions of lacs of deaths in India has failed miserably!
    IMHO, most deaths that have occurred are those with serious comorbidities or adverse drug reactions! Also ventilator support should be given case by case basis with great care & not generically!!
    The above is a very personal opinion only, please do your own research!

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Allen, Mangalore

    Sun, May 31 2020

    That is the reason people go to Private hospitals to save their life inspite of high expenses! Our own politicians, Ministers never get admitted in their own Govt hospitals!

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hussain, Abu Dhabi

    Sun, May 31 2020

    Im sure there is technical glitch for NRI returnees as well.... All are fine outside India but the moment they reach India, atleast 7-8 are tested +ve....Seriously doubt the accuracy

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sun, May 31 2020

    Please do not panic and please do not send to many samples to labs..

    Actually people with symptoms need to be tested once or twice... others should not worry.. instead efficiently complete quarantine process..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwin, Mangalore

    Sun, May 31 2020

    The doctors and private technical people and private hospital utilised for tests.this shows how tests are conducted and reporting system God alone know. Immediate CBI enquiry conducted to save life of people.The name of people testing to be displayed and restrictions to be imposed entering other people. A responsible person supervision initiated

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Monty Dotor, Mangalore

    Sun, May 31 2020

    The tests are highly unreliable and should be stopped as it only creates panic and fear.Learn to live with Corona.Instead of Corona Bye-Bye say Corona Bhai -Bhai .In India (because of immunity) it is proved beyond doubt that it is not a dangerous disease and deaths are due to co-morbidity rather than Corona itself. Be Happy Be Healthy.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, May 31 2020

    I was also wondering why so many Positive cases from people traveling from Mumbai ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mahesh, Shimoga

    Sun, May 31 2020

    The testing should be in such a way that the virus should be directly visible under micro scope. I don’t think such an equipment is available. At present test are done for presence of antibodies using reagents which are likely to go wrong because of bad quality especially China make.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • moshu, mangaluru

    Sun, May 31 2020

    Make sure equipments supplied from Gujarat.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil K, Mangalore

    Sun, May 31 2020

    If some positives are actually negatives and some negatives are actually positives, then the testing cannot be relied upon. Is there a problem with the testing kits or is this a human error ?

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sompa, Kodi Bengre

    Sun, May 31 2020

    OMG cant stop laughing.. God save India

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bhaskar, Mangalore

    Sat, May 30 2020

    Perhaps we should remember that there may be a somewhat high percentage of "false positives" and "false negatives" with coronavirus testing worldwide, not just in Udupi and Mangalore. One study in the USA showed that one brand of testing kit produced nearly 15 percent false negatives. The tests are not perfect. Let's support the efforts of our coronavirus medical personel to do their best.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Janardhan, Mangalore

    Sat, May 30 2020

    What is going on?
    How irresponsible can you get? One foolish mistake can ruin the entire State. If the lab technicians had doubt right from the start, why didn't they cross check?
    Is this a joke?
    This irresponsibility can cost Lacs of deaths and many super spreaders.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rohan Karkera, Mangaluru

    Sat, May 30 2020

    I might be Wrong, but is the administration even sure if the sudden discharge of 45 Patients in a single day have tested negative? What if there was any tech glitch there too? That would be a whole another new disaster!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Sat, May 30 2020

    Check testing device supplier? Impose penalty....

    DisAgree [5] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse


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