Dhanbad: Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) administration on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into alleged lapses in HIV testing procedures at the institute a day after a woman underwent a C-section delivery without a specialised safety kit based on a negative HIV report, only to test positive later.Four other women allegedly underwent C-section procedures at the same operation theatre thereafter, raising concerns over adherence to infection-control protocols at the govt-run institute.Hospital sources said the woman, a resident of Bank More area in Dhanbad, was initially admitted to the sadar hospital after she went into labour. After she was tested positive for HIV, she was referred to SNMMCH for delivery as sadar hospital lacked special kits required for operating on HIV-positive patients.She underwent another test at the SNMMCH’s clinical pathology laboratory after being admitted to the gynaecology department, which allegedly returned negative. Based on this report, she was operated upon without specialised safety kits.The discrepancy came to light when the woman was subsequently tested at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), where HIV testing is carried out under protocols prescribed by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The ICTC test returned positive.As a precautionary measure, samples from the woman’s husband, parents and parents-in-law have now been collected for testing. Four women, who underwent surgeries in the same OT, are also being screened for HIV infection, officials said.SNMMCH superintendent Dr Dinesh Kumar Gindouria on Wednesday said, “We have sought a detailed report to ascertain why the laboratory and ICTC reports differed and whether all prescribed safety protocols were followed.”Dr Gindouria added that it had also emerged during the preliminary inquiry that the woman’s husband was HIV-positive and had allegedly not disclosed his status earlier. “All aspects of the matter are being examined. Departmental action will be initiated against anyone found responsible for negligence,” he said.
