Seattle hospital warns ex-employee may have exposed patients to viruses

SEATTLE --   Seattle's Northwest Hospital and Medical Center is asking more than 1300 patients to test for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, after discovering that a former employee may have switched syringes at the facility.

The notification stems from a case in Colorado, where 28-year-old surgical tech Rocky Allen is charged in federal court with switching and stealing syringes with fentanyl.

Court documents say Allen worked at Northwest Hospital in early 2012 and at the Naval hospital in Bremerton from 2007 to 2011.

Investigators also found Allen had stolen fentanyl from a hospital in San Diego, lied on job applications and at one point tested positive for marijuana.

Washington's Department of Health said Tuesday two more medical facilities in the Puget Sound region would be named later this week, and up to 700 more patients will be encouraged to test themselves as well. Officials declined to name the facilities.