SINGAPORE - Of 325 patients screened, 255 have tested negative for the hepatitis C virus, the Singapore General Hospital announced in its latest update on Monday (Oct 12) evening.

The hospital said 207 patients have since been informed of their results.

Test results for the remaining 70 patients are still pending, while another 289 patients have confirmed their appointments for screening.

SGH added that a total of 253 out of 319 staff have undergone hepatitis C screening, as more staff stepped forward voluntarily to be screened.

In the meantime, the hospital is also providing emotional support to the 14 affected kidney patients and their family members - including the next-of-kin of the eight patients who died.

Doctors and medical social workers have so far met them over 12 family conferences. Six more have been scheduled for the next few days, and another three to be scheduled.

Last week, SGH revealed that 22 patients staying in its renal wards had contracted hepatitis C infections while receiving treatment.

Questions were raised as to why the hospital, which first suspected that the cases were related as early as mid-May, took so long to inform the public about the situation.

The Health Ministry has since launched a separate investigation to examine the timeline of events provided by SGH.