LAHORE – Questions have been raised over laboratory testing standards in Lahore after an undercover experiment by a private news channel’s anchor allegedly exposed shortcomings in a leading diagnostic laboratory.
As part of the operation, the anchor allegedly submitted a hen’s blood sample to a collection centre of Chughtai Lab, presenting it as human blood, and requested several medical tests, including a Complete Blood Count (CBC).
The laboratory subsequently issued a medical report containing test results allegedly without identifying that the submitted sample was not human blood.
The anchor said laboratories were required to comply with the Punjab Healthcare Commission’s regulations and follow prescribed procedures and standard operating protocols before issuing medical reports.
He alleged that the laboratory disregarded these requirements and processed the sample as human blood, raising concerns about its testing procedures and quality-control measures.
Highlighting the potential consequences, the anchor said doctors relied on laboratory reports when deciding treatment plans for patients. Any failure to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results could therefore create serious complications in medical decision-making.
The development has sparked debate on social media with one section slamming the anchor while other side raised questions over the quality standards of the lab.
A user wrote: “Laboratory only perform a test…They have nothing to do with the sample, either its from cat, chicken or human. You can perform test on any blood.”
Another said, “Cbc machine can generate report of water too…The blood of chicken is far away..”
A user also hit out at the anchor saying, “Hey brother how much money did you get??”.
The other section took aim at the lab, saying: “Ye chugtai lab h bai Yahan sab kux possible h”.
However, a user demanded an investigation into the matter. He wrote, “This cannot be possible; otherwise, no one would be safe. However, the case must be thoroughly investigated to establish whether the laboratory or the anchor is actually at fault.”
Chughtai Lab is yet to share its response on the matter.
