Some Ada jail inmates may have been given used razors

Officials say the incident was likely the result of a mix-up, and the risk of disease transmission is believed to be low.

BY PATRICK ORR - porr@idahostatesman.com

Published: 01/13/09


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Blood tests have been offered to about 192 Ada County Jail inmates who may have been exposed to used disposable razors earlier this month, Ada County sheriff's officials said Monday.

On Jan. 3, a jail deputy may have mistakenly given inmates in a unit of the jail used disposable razors that had been left in a bag in a storage area where the new razors usually are kept, sheriff's officials said.

Jail officials offered blood tests to all the inmates in the unit, although not all of the inmates had been given razors. Fewer than half of the inmates took the initial batch of tests, sheriff's spokeswoman Andrea Dearden said.

Medical experts told jail officials the risk of transmission of a communicable disease - such as hepatitis B, for example - by a used razor is very low. Officials decided to offer the blood tests as a precaution, Dearden said.

The first round of blood tests determined what, if any, communicable diseases an inmate has now. Those test results have been provided to the inmates.

The inmates who opt for an additional test later this year can use those results to determine whether any changes have occurred, she said.

An internal investigation is under way to determine how the jail's procedure for disposing of used razors apparently was not followed.

No jail employees had been disciplined in connection with the incident as of Monday, Dearden said.

Patrick Orr: 373-6619

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