CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A state health agency no longer has a shortage of blood test kits for hepatitis C.

County health departments rely on the Department of Health and Human Resources to test blood samples for hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The DHHR's Office of Laboratory Service told county health officials on Oct. 17 it had used up its hepatitis C testing supplies and would halt testing for about two weeks. The office cited problems with a bid process. The state's contract with a California company that supplied the kits expired earlier this year.

Department of Health and Human Resources spokeswoman Marsha Dadisman tells the Charleston Daily Mail (http://bit.ly/Ru3zZK) that the state conducted an emergency purchase of testing kits on Oct. 19 but didn't immediately tell county health departments.