VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Editor's note: The story below has been updated to clarify which companies were involved in the software issue that led to the false positive results being distributed.
Nearly 400 customers who took a cancer-detecting blood test created by the company Grail got false positive results due to an issue with the software used by a vendor for the company.
These tests use blood samples to detect fifty different cancers. Both the Chesapeake and Virginia Beach fire departments secured grants that provide the test for free to any active or retired firefighters.
The company issued the statement that around 400 results sent out between May 10 to 18 were incorrect. They say the issue was not related to the actual test results, but instead an issue with the configuration of software used by Grail’s telemedicine vendor, PWNHealth, to send those letters.
Fortunately, the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Fire Department's firefighters weren't affected by the mishap, their spokespeople confirmed to 13News Now.
"It's our understanding this was an isolated case caused by a software issue and does not, in any way, affect the Chesapeake Fire Department members or their testing process," a spokesperson for the Chesapeake Fire Department said.
A spokesperson for the Virginia Beach Fire Department said the issue didn't affect their firefighters since their blood tests were drawn the week of May 22 through May 25.