Kalamazoo FQHC Experiences Sterilization Failure - Dental Patients Warned

Sterilization failures are rare today, but one occurred in the dental clinic of the Family Health Center East Alcott Street location.  The Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is encouraging some dental patients to get tested for hepatitis and HIV:

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2025/12/kalamazoo-health-center-patients-urged-to-get-hiv-hepatitis-tests-after-sterilization-failure.html

Kalamazoo health center patients urged to get HIV, hepatitis tests after sterilization failure
By Aya Miller | December 11, 2025

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Family Health Center is encouraging some patients to get tested for hepatitis and HIV after learning dental equipment wasn’t sterilized properly.

Patients who may have been treated with the improperly sterilized items were notified and offered free lab testing, according to a statement from Family Health Center.

According to the statement, a procedural step was missed in sterilizing a “small number” of dental instruments.

Rick Chambers, a communications representative for Family Health Center, said the exposure happened “recently,” but did not give a specific time frame. Affected patients would have been treated at the Family Health Center location at 505 East Alcott St.

The health center’s sterilization protocols have been updated, the statement said.

The Kalamazoo County Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services were both notified, according to the statement.