Sydney’s COVID testing in turmoil as SydPath confirms nearly 500 COVID-positive Sydneysiders were told they were negative in SMS

Nearly 500 more people have wrongly been told their COVID-19 test result was negative in another error by a Sydney testing lab.

On Tuesday afternoon SydPath, the facility that operates pathology services at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, issued a statement to confirm that 486 of an additional 950 people who had been sent a text message “prematurely” had been validated as COVID-positive.

The SMS told all 950 recipients they were negative for the virus when, in fact, 486 were positive.

Sydney COVID testing bungles

Tuesday’s announcement was the third in a series of blunders from the Sydney pathology company in as many days.

On Sunday, SydPath confirmed that more than 400 people who initially received a negative result on Christmas Day were notified on Boxing Day they had actually tested positive.

“SydPath last night incorrectly messaged more than 400 people, advising them they had tested negative to COVID,” the statement read.

“These people had tested positive to COVID.”

The Sydney pathology company on Monday then owned up to a second massive blunder, this time saying almost 1000 people were told they were COVID-19 negative when in fact their results hadn’t been returned yet.

The incidents were a result of human error at a time of unprecedented pressure, they said.

“SydPath have put procedures in place to ensure this cannot happen again.”

MEAG COMMENT:  How many times has the above line been uttered?  Private laboratories taking on more than they can cope with.  It’s called corporate greed.  Maladministration in the extreme.

READ FULL STORY FROM LUCY MAE BEERS / SEVEN NEWS / WITH AAP:

 Sydney COVID testing bungle escalates after another 500 COVID-positive bungle