Nervous about their products being used to test Ebola patients, medical device manufacturers are limiting support, service and warranties to hospitals, according to an article on the USA Today. Some labs are refusing to accept blood or tissue samples.
Some of these restrictions are irrational, hospital officials say.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), devices used to test biological samples from Ebola patients can be disinfected and reused safely. Despite the CDC's reassurances, concerns about handling Ebola samples in lab environments continue.
Four large commercial diagnostic laboratories, which do specialized tests on blood and tissue, announced that they will not accept blood or tissue samples from Ebola patients, the article said.
"It's a pretty big hurdle for clinical labs to be prepared to provide lab testing to patients known or suspected to have Ebola," Daniel Diekema, president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and head of the infectious disease division at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, said in the article.
"One of the concerns, because of these messages from (equipment makers), is: Are we going to have to buy all new equipment and make a large capital investment."
A 'Superbug' Is on the Rise in Hospitals
The Next Generation of Security Tech in Healthcare Facilities
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of St. Petersburg Opens
Why More Facilities are Adding Gender Neutral Restrooms
Massachusetts Hospital Cyberattack Reflects Growing Vulnerability in Healthcare Systems