MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro is offering veterans free testing and additional medical care after using potentially contaminated equipment during colonoscopies.

Hospital spokesman Chris Conklin says tools used to perform colonoscopies at its Lebanon Pike location may have been infected.

He says the hospital is using its electronic medical record system to identify patients who may be affected.

The Daily Journal News reports a national veterans affairs inspection team will determine the level of risk and notify veterans through personal phone calls and mailings.

Hospital officials have know about the potential infection threat since Dec. 1, but did not make the information public until Friday.

The hospital issued an apology in a statement.

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Information from: The Daily News Journal, http://www.dnj.com

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