The News Minute | August 22, 2014 | 08:18 am ISTA Chennai hospital witnessed hysterical scenes on Thursday as families of 20 patients who reportedly contracted Hepatitis C virus after undergoing dialysis protested that the dialysis machine used was contaminated.In line for renal transplant at the Stanley Hospital, the patients were aghast on being told that they were not eligible for the transplant as they were infected with the virus. Hospital officials have said that such infections for people with renal problems are common, and have denied any responsibility for it.Dean Dr A L Meenakshi Sundaram told the Times of India that Hepatitis C is common among people with renal failure. "We put them on anti-viral therapy to ready them for the transplants and we send their blood samples to the labs. We pick up the collective results only after a month so the numbers may look high," he said. The patients will be treated for the infection at the hospital and undergo kidney transplants once fit, he said. However, hospital officials have said that they are not responsible for the infection.Senior nephrologist Dr Georgy Abraham believed it possible for patients to contract infections from a dialysis machine if it is not sterilized properly after each session. A viral count test would provide more accurate results, he said.