XI'AN, Feb. 26 -- A hospital in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is under scrutiny after 26 of its dialysis patients contracted hepatitis C, local authorities said Friday.

The patients are alleged to have contracted hepatitis C earlier this month during hemodialysis sessions at Zhen'an County Hospital in Shangluo City, said He Youwen, a hospital official.

"They were among some 40 kidney disease patients who regularly receive the treatment two to three times a week," he said.

The blood-born virus was detected during routine checkups between Feb. 17 and 19. As of Wednesday, 26 cases had been confirmed, he said.

The hospital has undergone thorough sterilization and seven new dialysis machines were brought in after the infections, the official said.

A preliminary investigation indicates that inadequate sterilization was likely to blame, said Jiang Hongli, a specialist with the First Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University and a member of the government-led investigation team.

"But we need to investigate further to fully determine when the problem occurred and who was responsible," said Jiang.

Liver disease specialist Han Ying confirmed that hepatitis C virus is transmitted mainly through blood. "The standard practice is for confirmed hepatitis C virus carriers to use separate dialysis equipment."

China reported 200,000 cases of hepatitis C last year, 95 patients died, according to figures released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

With 601 staff and 500 beds, Zhen'an Hospital is the largest and busiest public hospital in the county, which has a population of about 302,600.