False Covid-19 test results as NSW system buckles

Nearly 1400 people have been ­incorrectly advised of a Covid-19 negative result in NSW after taking a PCR test, as the doctors union blamed overwhelming ­demand for the bungle.

People queue for Covid-19 PCR tests in Sydney’s Ultimo. Picture: Richard Dobson

Nearly 1400 people have been ­incorrectly advised of a Covid-19 negative result in NSW after taking a PCR test, as the doctors union blamed overwhelming ­demand for the bungle.

St Vincent’s Hospital confirmed on Monday that an ­additional 995 people who undertook a Covid-19 test at their SydPath testing centres on December 23 and 24 received a “premature” text advising them they did not have the virus, when their test had not been completed.

This figure is in addition to the 400 who received a negative ­result via text when they were ­actually positive, after undertaking a Covid-19 test on December 22 and 23.

Australian Medical Association vice-president Chris Moy said the alarming number of incorrect results was a “terrible ­mistake which is almost certainly a symptom of an overwhelmed system”.

As NSW recorded 6324 new Covid-19 infections on Monday, Dr Moy warned that the numbers may not accurately reflect the number of cases in the community.

“There is no way in the world that the current number is the true number of patients (with Covid-19),” he said.

Dr Moy said a drop in testing rates over Christmas and the sheer number of people who have been unable to complete a test over the past few days made it clear there are more people yet to return a positive case.

St Vincent’s is yet to clarify the precise cause of the error which led to almost 1400 people receiving an incorrect or “premature” result. The hospital didn’t respond when questioned by The Australian, although a statement delivered earlier on Monday called it a “human error”.

“The emergency response team that is investigating the cause of this error has now identified that approximately 995 more people, tested on 23 and 24 December were prematurely sent an SMS advising them their test was negative when in fact their true result had not yet been determined,” the statement read.

“We have identified what occurred and can confirm it was related to a specific human error. SydPath have put procedures in place to ensure this cannot happen again.”

St Vincent’s said the 995 people wrongly advised of their result would find out whether they had in fact contracted the virus on Monday evening.

“This event comes at a time of unprecedented Covid-testing ­activity and SydPath’s people, as with all pathology teams throughout NSW, are working around the clock to respond,” it said in the statement.

Dr Moy said it had been only a matter of time before an error such as this one would have occurred. He added that NSW was in the worst position of all jurisdictions in the country as it had “clearly the highest propagation rate of cases”.

“At the moment, the problem is that the number of testing systems is overwhelmed, it’s just not working,” he said.

“You either can’t get a test, you’ve got to wait in line for hours, you’ve got to wait again for the result – and now we’re in a situation where we’re getting incorrect results.

“They have to now pivot to deploying this precious resource to when people need it.

“Unfortunately, because NSW have failed – they didn’t control the movement – it is really overwhelmed,” he said of the testing regime.

Dr Moy said the AMA was now pleading with as many clinics as possible to come on board to deliver booster shots.

“We need to slow down movement and vaccinate as hard as possible; we need to slow down the propagation of this and blunt off the peak so all the people don’t contract Covid at once,” he said/