MRSA tests on babies 'were wrong'

The hospital has apologised for the distress caused to parents

An investigation has been launched after families were told their babies had MRSA - only to discover none of them had the life-threatening disease.

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised for the error and said the first tests provided "false positive results".

The health trust found the superbug on seven babies during routine screening at St Mary's Hospital.

A spokesman confirmed that an investigation had started.

He added: "Further tests have been carried out on the babies on the neo-natal unit and these results are negative.

"It is likely that the original samples taken gave a false positive result and we are now looking into how this could have occurred.

"We have apologised to the parents concerned for the distress this may have caused over the past few days.

"We must stress none of the babies thought to be MRSA positive on Thursday have at any time carried MRSA."

The bug is only a problem when it enters the bloodstream.

Health bosses had temporarily closed the neo-natal unit to new admissions as a precautionary measure but it is now back up and running.