Tested Positive but Actually 'Negative'... 'Testing Error' Halts Operations at Busan Quarantine Office Laboratory

November 17-19 Port Quarantine Station: 61 Arrivals Initially 'Positive' Tested 'Negative' on Retest

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is visiting the National Incheon Airport Quarantine Station on November 3rd to inspect the quarantine site. [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The testing operations at the Busan Quarantine Station were completely halted after it was revealed that the COVID-19 tests classifying incoming travelers from overseas as positive cases were erroneous.

Health authorities announced on the 30th that errors were discovered during the COVID-19 diagnostic testing process conducted at the Busan Quarantine Station.

According to health authorities, an error was confirmed in the COVID-19 quarantine stage diagnostic testing process at the Gyeongnam Disease Response Center. The error period lasted for three days, from November 17 to 19, primarily involving tests on travelers entering through port quarantine stations.

As a result of re-examination by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 61 overseas-imported confirmed cases were ultimately verified as ‘negative,’ leading to the removal of 61 individuals from the previously reported number of overseas-imported positive cases.

Health authorities immediately suspended COVID-19 testing operations at the Busan Quarantine Station’s testing laboratory where the errors were identified, and it is currently known that testing is being conducted through an external entrusted agency.

Health authorities have initiated a comprehensive inspection of testing laboratories at quarantine stations nationwide.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.