BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has identified a "potential reporting issue" at one of the state's commercial COVID-19 testing laboratories, leading to more than 100 false positives being reported this week.
The DPH said the lab had reported a "disproportionate number of false positive results" between July 30 and August 1. After a possible issue was detected, the lab ceased all testing and the Department launched an investigation.
Out of 460 tests that have since been retested by another independent lab, 130 were found to have been falsely reported as positive.
"Based on results received to date, the Department has accordingly released updated case numbers and risk levels for the August 12 weekly public health report for Fall River and Taunton," said the DPH.
The reporting issue means Fall River's COVID-19 risk status on the state's color-coded map has been downgraded from red to yellow, and Taunton went from yellow to green.
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The DPH said the issue at the commercial lab is still under investigation, so other municipalities’ numbers may also be updated.
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