The possible malfunction of a sterilization machine at the Leader Hospital has prompted the Cypress Health Region to change their procedures.

     CEO Jim Hornell says all equipment is now being sterilized in Swift Current at the Cypress Regional Hospital, adding the Region had planned to do this eventually anyway.  He says they are bringing in a third party to review the procedures and make sure the system is running at the level the Health Region expects.

     It was recommended that the 170 people who were treated with equipment which may not have been properly sterilized come in for a blood test.  Of those 170, 142 people took the voluntary test and there has been no indication of infection.