Overview
- A technical incident in Málaga’s fecal occult blood testing generated a higher-than-expected number of positive results that laboratory staff identified as anomalous.
- The Servicio Andaluz de Salud’s laboratory professionals opened an immediate procedural review after spotting the spike in positives and notified affected health districts.
- The Consejería de Salud says the fault has been fixed and that repeat fecal occult blood tests are being offered and carried out for people who may have received false positives.
- No official total of affected patients has been released; the local paper Málaga Hoy estimates about 400 people in the province could be involved.
- False positives can lead to unneeded follow-up procedures, patient anxiety, and extra workload for diagnostic services, so authorities are reviewing results and will provide further updates on confirmed case counts and any clinical consequences.