Devastated former patients seek legal action after possible HIV exposure

Nearly 3,800 patients may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis at HealthPlus in Saddle Brook, and some of the devastated former patients are now speaking out.

The patients are part of more than two dozen people who have retained attorney Michael Maggiano for a class action lawsuit.

All were patients of the surgical center between January and September of last year, and all will be tested for HIV and Hepatitis.

RELATED: Surgical center faces lawsuits for potentially exposing patients to HIV 

Investigators from the State Health Department found a stretcher with a wet, red stain they say went without being disinfected.

According to officials, they also noticed rust-colored stains on surgical tools.

The report also found some workers did not wash their hands, re-used IV bags and did not properly sanitize tools and trays.

The potentially affected patients all received certified letters starting Christmas Eve.

"To me these are deadly diseases,” says Mahogany Clifton. “What about my job? What about my child? What about my life? What about my mom? What about my sister? What about my friends? I work in the food industry. We work on machines, sometimes we get cuts. What am I to do?"

“Why would I trust you with my test when I can't trust you with my health?” says Cristal Irons.

Irons says she noticed Health Plus was sending them all to a hospital under the same ownership, but they are all refusing to go there, so now they will get tested on their own.