Contaminated Endoscopy Exposure May Show Positive Years Later

Report No. 09-01784-146 June 16, 2009 VA Office of Inspector General
According to the VAOIG Report No. 09-01784-146 dated June 16, 2009, following exposure to hepatitis B, C and HIV it could take " a prolonged time period, e.g., months to years for such infection to become apparent."

Given this fact, we are again urging all those exposed to get tested and continue to get tested in accordance with the advise of your private physician.

Also of note is that if you experienced illness within days of your endoscopy procedure, get your medical records because you may have suffered from a “bacterial cross contamination" which "would result in illness within days of the endoscopy.”