Idaho inmates mistakenly given used razors

[January 14, 2009]  BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Ada County sheriff's officials said they are running blood tests on about 192 jail inmates who may have shaved with used, disposable razors.

A jail deputy may have mistakenly given inmates used razors earlier this month. The razors were left in a storage area where new razors are usually kept.

Ada County sheriff's spokeswoman Andrea Dearden said the tests were offered as a precaution despite a low risk of transmitting communicable diseases, such as hepatitis B.

Dearden said fewer than half of the unit's inmates took the initial batch of tests.

The jail in investigating why the used razors were not disposed of properly.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com/

[Associated Press]

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