Tuesday, December 05, 2006 – 5:00 PM
Potential Instrument Contamination Update
Preliminary LHSC lab results received
(LONDON, Ontario) - Preliminary results from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) laboratories indicate that surgical and medical equipment at the UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL site were not contaminated by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
These preliminary laboratory results must now be confirmed by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System. These test results are expected later this week.
Although there is an extremely low risk of contamination, surgical and ambulatory procedures at LHSC UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL remain cancelled for December 5 and 6 as a precautionary measure.
As reported earlier today, LHSC cancelled scheduled surgical and ambulatory procedures at its UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL site due to a potential instrument contamination resulting from a suspected case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. The suspected case created a potential contamination risk for surgical and medical instruments used at the UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL site between November 30 and December 4.
A patient information call centre has been established to address patient and family concerns at 1-866-313-5528. Calls will be answered by hospital staff between 7:30 am and 9:00 pm.
The Media Information Line at 519-685-8575 provides regular media updates via recorded messages.
For further information, please contact:
Judie Havers
Corporate Communications & Public Relations
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500, ext. 58738
After-hours assistance:
Call LHSC Switchboard at (519) 685-8500 and
ask to page the communication consultant on-call.
