HIV and hepatitis testing prompted by so-called 'dirty dentist' tops 2,200

As of Wednesday morning, 2,232 people have visited the Tulsa Health Department to be screened and have their blood drawn for testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.

The testing was prompted by the recent announcement by health and dental officials of improper infection control practices of Tulsa oral surgeon W. Scott Harrington.

The Tulsa Health Department and Oklahoma State Department of Health will announce positive case results only after thorough individual case investigations have been completed. That means there will be a delay between when the infected individual is notified and when the general public finds out about a positive test.

For those patients whose tests results are negative and whose last dental visit at the Harrington clinic occurred before Sept. 19, 2012, health department officials say no additional testing or follow up will be recommended.

For those with negative test results who had dental procedures in the Harrington clinic between Sept. 20, 2012, and March 20, 2013, THD and the OSDH will recommend follow up testing at least six months past the last dental clinic date at the Harrington practice. It is possible those persons may be in an early infection stage that is not yet detected by the tests that were performed.

Patients are encouraged to contact the Patient Information Hotline at (918) 595-4500 to address any concerns about correspondence they receive or other aspects of the investigation.

Screening continues this week at the North Regional Health and Wellness Center, 5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. between 9 A.M. and 4 P.M. Monday through Thursday and between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. on Friday.