Test result error margin ‘must be internationally acceptable’

THE leading representative body for Irish pathologists has said test result errors will always be made, but every effort must be made to ensure the error margin is kept within internationally acceptable standards.

The Faculty of Pathology at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland was responding to the HIQA report, published this week, which found a locum pathologist at the centre of the University College Hospital Galway breast cancer misdiagnosis scandal had an error rate that was six times the accepted rate.

Vice Dean of the faculty, Dr Conor O’Keane, said pathology services in Ireland were “broadly speaking under resourced”, but that it was not believed that understaffing led to the Galway errors.