( CNN ) -- Hundreds of veterans may have been exposed to hepatitis B , hepatitis C and HIV because of medical oversights that allowed insulin pens to be used on more than one patient at a Veterans Administration hospital in Buffalo , New York , according to a memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs to Congress . `` On November 1 , 2012 , officials at the ( Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System ) reported that while conducting pharmacy inspection rounds on the inpatient units , they discovered that insulin pens intended for individual patient use were found in the supply drawer of the medication carts without a patient label on them , '' said the memo , obtained by CNN through the office of U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins , D-New York . `` Although the disposable needles were changed each time it was used , the insulin pens intended for individual patient use may have been used on more than one patient . '' `` There is a very small chance that some patients could have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus , the hepatitis C virus , or HIV , based on practices identified at the facility , '' the congressional memo states . `` ( The health system ) determined that all veterans who were prescribed the insulin pen during an inpatient stay from October 19 , 2010 , to November 1 , 2012 , should be notified . '' The veterans ' health care system has found that 716 patients may have been affected during this time period , Jim Blue , regional director of the VA 's Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs , told CNN . `` Veterans and their families will have an opportunity to speak with a nurse who will answer questions they may have and assist with managing followup care , '' Blue said . VA under scrutiny after Legionnaires ' cases . However , slow patient outreach has also been a contentious issue . `` Beyond the fact that the error occurred at all , most concerning was the length of time it took the Buffalo VA to catch the error -- over two years , as well as the three-month delay in informing patients who may have been exposed , '' Higgins , whose district includes the city of Buffalo , wrote in a letter to the VA on Monday . `` Also detail why affected patients were n't notified immediately . '' Insulin pens are injector devices designed to allow multiple self-injections for one person , according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 's website . Because blood may enter the insulin cartridge after injection , blood-borne pathogens can be transmitted from one person to another even after the needle has been changed . The devices are never to be used by more than one person . `` Unfortunately , since the day that new technology was introduced at the VA , they did not have a protocol in place that let the nurses know they were not supposed to use the cartridge on more than one patient , '' Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Collins told CNN affiliate WGRZ . Collins also called the situation in Buffalo `` unacceptable . '' The health system will continue to contact all people potentially affected by this issue , answer all questions , provide necessary information and help arrange blood tests or medical followup , according to the memo sent to Congress . Higgins has also requested a detailed response outlining what steps will be taken to prevent any similar issues in the future . Ex-hospital worker indicted over hepatitis . Chris Boyette contributed to this report .
memo pens were erroneously used on multiple patients in a U.S. hospital , Insulin says . Shared items may have exposed Hundreds veterans to hepatitis B , hepatitis C and HIV . Incorrect use lasted from Monday , memo says .