Review into SA Pathology cancer test bungles to be launched

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A review into two SA Pathology prostate cancer testing blunders will be launched by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality next week.

SA Health chief executive officer David Swan has ordered the review, which will be led by Associate Professor Ken Sikaris from Melbourne University’s pathology department, and Professor Mark Frydenberg, the chair of the urology department at Monash Medical Centre.

Last weekend, it was revealed about 100 men were left fearing they had prostate cancer, despite the fact they had already had their prostate glands removed, after test results incorrectly showed elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Siemens, the company which provided SA Pathology with the testing kits, has denied the kits were faulty.

SA Pathology’s handling of the error led to the sacking of its chief executive officer Ken Barr.

On Thursday, SA Health was forced to apologise for a second error in prostate cancer tests when 68 patients were given an incorrect comment on their results that recommended they see a urologist, instead of recommending a rescreening in six to 12 months’ time.

SA Health said it has since contacted each of the 68 patients’ referring clinicians to inform them of the error.

The independent review is expected to take about three months.