Ohio task force wants more VA testing

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A special task force wants the Veterans Administration to expand testing for infections from treatment by a dentist who allegedly failed to change gloves between patients at a southwest Ohio medical center.

The Greater Dayton Area Hospital team’s interim report today urged testing in all patients seen by the dentist as well as deceased patients’ next-of-kin. The Dayton Daily News reports that could mean thousands of tests.

The VA offered free screening to 535 patients who received invasive dental work such as extractions and fillings from 1992 to July 2010. The VA said earlier that testing so far has confirmed two patients were newly positive for hepatitis B and further testing was being done to determine if they were infected at the clinic.

The center didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.