Health Department: $700,000 Spent Screening Patients Of Tulsa Dentist

The Oklahoma state health department says the cost of testing thousands of dentist Dr. Scott Harrington's patients is nearing $700,000, and still climbing.

More than 3,500 of Harrington's patients have been tested for hepatitis and HIV, after Oklahoma Board of Dentistry investigators found unsanitary practices in his offices. Each test costs about $195.

State health workers say the $700,000 tally doesn't include follow-up tests, patient notification and the cost of investigations into each positive result.

So far, 65 of those patients have tested positive for hepatitis C and fewer than three patients tested positive for HIV, the Tulsa Health Department reported. Each positive case will be investigated by the health department to determine whether the individuals possibly contracted the disease from the dental office.

4/25/2013 Related Story: Health Department: 8 More Tulsa Dental Patients Test Positive For Hepatitis C