Fire & Life Safety

16 Indiana students given insulin during tuberculosis test

Students at the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology in the Lawrence Township (Ind.) district were mistakenly given a small dose of insulin.
Sept. 30, 2019
2 min read

Sixteen students in the Lawrence Township (Ind.) district were mistakenly injected with insulin during a tuberculosis skin test Monday morning, district officials says.

The Indianapolis Star reports that the students, who attend the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology in Indianapolis, were administered a "small dosage" of insulin by personnel from Community Health Network, according to a statement from the school district.

Parents of all the students have been notified, and as a precaution, the students were taken to local hospitals for observation.

During a tuberculosis skin test, a subject receives a small injection of liquid — a protein derivative called tuberculin — in the lower part of their arm, creating a small, pale bump, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A health care provider will check the bump after two or three days to look for a reaction at the injection site. If a reaction is present, additional testing will be needed to determine if that person has a latent tuberculosis infection or if they are infected. 

District spokeswoman Dana Altemeyer says the students involved are part of the CNA/biomedical sciences program and are required to receive a tuberculosis test and a flu shot before participating in offsite clinical experiences.

The district released a statement about the incident on Facebook:

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy, senior editor, has written for AS&U on a wide range of educational issues since 1999.

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