FEWER than 10 women were found to be suffering from hepatitis or a sex disease following the recent recall of female patients at a Darwen surgery.

And health experts say the results among the recalled women were less than half the current rate for the same infections among the female population nationally.

Nearly 400 women came forward for tests earlier this year after an inspection at Perry Street surgery by an infection control supervisor with Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust. It revealed concerns about the cleaning procedures used on equipment for intimate examinations, some dating back to 1991.

The practice nurse, Sabria Derar, wife of GP Ibrahim Derar who runs the practice, had allegedly disinfected but not sterilised specula used in smear tests and other intimate examinations. The PCT does not employ the staff concerned, but says it is now looking closely at what lessons can be learned from the incident in order to improve patient safety at all surgeries.

Dr Jim Paris, director of public health, said: "We are pleased that a high proportion of the women contacted came to the clinics and took up the offer of tests. The very low rate of infection found is reassuring and confirms the Health Protection Agency's advice that the risk of infection from an inadequately cleaned instrument was very low.

"We cannot, of course, be certain that the women who have tested positively have been infected through the incident ay Perry Street but we have provided fast-track advice and treatment because they were put at risk unnecessarily.

"We would like to thank all the women involved for coming for tests. I would also urge women to attend for their usual smear appointments.

Dr John Astbury, health protection consultant with the Independent Health Protection Agency said: "No new cases of active hepatitis B or C have been found. A small number of patients who had previously been diagnosed with hepatitis tested positive. These women are already known to the Health Service. A small number of women were identified as having had hepatitis B in the past but are now free from infection."