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California probes whistleblower allegations from COVID lab

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Department of Public Health is investigating whistleblower allegations of mismanagement and incompetence — including reports of workers sleeping on the job — at the state's new billion-dollar COVID-19 testing laboratory.

Internal documents from the PerkinElmer-run lab detail alleged problems like contamination causing inconclusive tests, swapped samples and inaccurate results sent to patients.

The records were obtained by CBS13 TV in Sacramento.

The news station interviewed current and former employees who claim to have found COVID-19 test swabs found in restrooms.

Tomas Aragon, director of California's health department, says the state is taking the allegations seriously.