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Inmates Released Due To False Toxicological Tests

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Dec 29, 2009 10:35 am US/Pacific

Inmates Released Due To False Toxicological Tests

Hundreds More Cases To Be Reviewed

VISTA, Calif. (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Eleven inmates were released from a Vista jail and hundreds of cases are being reviewed in an expanded look at faulty toxicological tests from a Chatsworth forensics lab.
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San Diego County officials say 11 inmates were released from a Vista jail and hundreds of cases are being reviewed in an expanded look at faulty toxicological tests from a forensics lab.

Problems with Pacific Toxicology in Chatsworth were reported in October, but San Diego County officials thought only a few cases were involved. After a recent false positive morphine finding, they ordered a review of 675 cases dating from May to December.

The lab, which has had a sheriff's contract to test blood and urine samples for drugs since 2001, warned the department about problems in June and July because of an inexperienced lab worker.

Sheriff's spokesman Rich Debevec says the department no longer uses the lab.
Cases against seven of the released inmates were dropped. The others are under review.