Another misread pathology sample has been found among the slides read by visiting Indian doctor John Thomas while he was a temporary pathologist at Auckland Hospital.
Dr Thomas has since left the country but an audit of his work by the Auckland District Health Board has revealed a high rate oferrors in slide readings, particularly from prostate biopsies.
Some patients were told they did not have cancer but another biopsy revealed they did have cancer.
Earlier this month The Auckland District Health Board said of 139 samples re-read, 19 were found to be wrong and the error rate was unacceptably high.
Health board chief operating officer Neil Woodhams, said today the audit had revealed another error which had worried the hospital.
However, the doctor treating the patient had the full medical history of the patient and made the correct diagnosis knowing the pathology results from Dr Thomas were probably wrong.
"It didn't lead to any adverse patient outcome. It was picked up at the time," Mr Woodhams said.
A further 44 slides revealed minor discrepancies which did not lead to a change in diagnoses or a change in treatment.
Mr Woodhams said the audit was largely finished. A further 20 slides would be re-read.
"The work we have done to date confirms he (Dr Thomas) clearly had a problem reading prostate slides but the rest of his work was pretty well up to the mark."
Mr Woodhams said all patients who had received a wrong reading had been contacted.
He said the screening used when Dr Thomas was employed met all the required standards.
However, once the audit of Dr Thomas' work was completed the screening processes would be reviewed.
"Nothing I am aware of at the present time would indicate we would change our current procedures."
Earlier this month the Medical Council of New Zealand said it was highly unlikely Dr Thomas would work again in New Zealand.
