Audit will investigate contracts with laboratory that carried out HIV tests

The General Comptroller of the State of Rio de Janeiro initiated an extraordinary audit with the purpose of identifying and punishing those responsible for the errors that culminated in the HIV infection of six transplant patients in the state. The investigation will analyze all contracts between the Health Foundation and the PCS Saleme laboratory. The audit is expected to be completed in 45 days.

Governor Cláudio Castro reinforced, this Tuesday (15), his commitment to identifying and punishing those responsible for HIV infection in transplant patients. “We have been working since the day we learned about this unacceptable error to correct it, serve the victims and ensure this never happens again. We have already realized that the error occurred between December 2023 and September this year, and all exams are being redone”, said the governor, highlighting that public or private agents involved will be punished.

The governor clarified that, since the notification of the first case, the laboratory’s service had been suspended by the state’s Health Surveillance and was closed as a precautionary measure, and an investigation was opened by the Department of Health. “The tests were now carried out by Hemorio, which is retesting all donor blood samples stored during the period in which the laboratory provided services to the State”, he assessed.

Employee’s defense says the accusation is false

PCS Lab laboratory employee Saleme Jacqueline Iris Bacellar de Assis would have been a victim of the laboratory “which manipulated and forged messages, documents and reports”, according to a statement released to the press by Jaqueline’s defense this Wednesday morning (16).

Jaqueline would have been responsible for signing erroneous HIV test reports that led to the infection of transplant patients in Rio de Janeiro. She was arrested this Tuesday (15). After being considered a fugitive, she presented herself to the police and gave a statement.

In addition to Jaqueline, one of the laboratory’s partners, Walter Vieira, and a laboratory technician were arrested on Monday (14). The case is under secrecy.

According to a note from the laboratory itself, Jacqueline “presented inappropriate documentation (biomedical diploma and professional card with qualifications in pathology), inducing the laboratory to believe that she was competent to sign reports”.

Two donors had incorrect HIV reports signed by the laboratory, which was responsible for testing before the organs were sent for transplants in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Patients were considered negative when they were actually positive for the virus. As a result, six patients were infected with HIV as a result of transplants.

Jaqueline’s defense states that she is registered with the Federal Pharmacy Council (CRF 5125/RJ), and that she never attended college or worked as a biomedical doctor during her career and, mainly, with the laboratory under investigation. “She never delivered any document to the laboratory that qualified her as a biomedical doctor and she never signed any sample analysis report, especially because she is not competent to do so”, says the note.

According to the lawyers, she personally delivered the original documents upon admission, including the diploma and registration with the Federal Pharmacy Council. “The text message containing the Biomedical diploma is absolutely false, as the police authority has already stated”, alleges the defense.

“Just like the patients, Jaqueline is a victim of the laboratory that manipulated and forged messages, documents and reports, improperly using her name, adulterating her qualifications, which is why she is fully certain that everything will be verified through the police investigation and that those responsible will be held accountable for the act”, adds the note.

After confirming the cases of infection, PCS Lab Saleme was closed by the local Health Surveillance, with technical guidance from Anvisa, until the investigations were completed, focusing on the safety of transplants. New pre-transplant exams are being carried out at Hemorio.

The unprecedented case is considered serious by the State Department of Health (SES) and the Ministry of Health.