Expired blood culture vials used in Lahore hospitals spark outrage

Expired blood culture vials used in Lahore hospitals raise alarm over patient safety

LAHORE: Alarming negligence has been reported in the pathology laboratories of Jinnah Hospital and Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) Lahore, where patients were allegedly given expired blood culture vials for diagnostic tests. The discovery has triggered public outrage and a high-level inquiry.

According to hospital sources, vials that originally expired in 2022 were allegedly re-labeled with fake stickers, falsely showing a 2025 expiry date. Shockingly, even after these vials expired again two months ago, they continued to be used for patients — risking inaccurate test results and potentially life-threatening complications.

One such case involved a 45-year-old patient, Nasir Ali, who was reportedly given a double-expired vial for a blood culture test. Following repeated complaints, AIMC Principal Professor Tayabba Waseem conducted a surprise inspection and seized several vials with tampered labels from the hospital laboratory.

Head of Pathology, Dr. Munazza Natiq, defended the practice, stating that the vials were still usable for six months beyond their printed expiry. However, medical experts strongly disagree, warning that expired culture media can produce false-negative or false-positive results, leading to delayed diagnoses, septic shock, organ failure, and even death in high-risk patients.

The pathology lab reportedly conducts over 100 blood culture tests daily. This puts vulnerable groups, including ICU patients, cancer patients, newborns, and kidney transplant recipients at serious risk.

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Despite routine checks, the Punjab Healthcare Commission’s recent inspection failed to prevent this malpractice. In response, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has pledged strict action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEDA) Act.

“We will ensure a transparent investigation and hold everyone involved accountable. Patient safety is non-negotiable,” said Khawaja Salman Rafique.

Public health experts have called for immediate reform of laboratory quality control systems, routine third-party audits, and stricter penalties for medical negligence to restore trust in hospital diagnostics.

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