Medical Technologists' Association (MTA) of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has claimed that the technical staff and junior faculty were forced to use expired kits for various tests.
In a complaint to PGIMER director, the MTA has sought probe for using expiry kits for Rubella and HBeAG tests The Rubella IgM test is done in pregnancy cases for any congenital malformations and the presence of HBeAg is pivotal for deciding whether to start antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B positive cases.
The association claimed that these kits got expired on November 12, 2014, but the staff was asked to use them till February. The protocol for these tests and reports was signed by faculty and technical staff. Dr RK Ratho, head of dept virology, had purchased fresh elisa kits for Rubella IgM tests in March 2015 with date of expiry in 2016 and the association has raised questions over the purchase.
The MTA in a press release said it had requested the Institutional (intramural) and Ethical Committee that the relevant record of virology laboratory should be immediately seized to probe the matter.
{{/usCountry}}The MTA in a press release said it had requested the Institutional (intramural) and Ethical Committee that the relevant record of virology laboratory should be immediately seized to probe the matter.
{{/usCountry}}The association has also requested the administration that the junior faculty and technical staff may be granted immunity for refusing to use expiry kits in larger public and patient interests as they were subjected to harassment and victimisation for refusal under Conduct Rules.