HHS OCR report · 2017
Alere Toxicology data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Alere Toxicology
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 2,146
- Submission date
- Nov 28, 2017
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Between July 13, 2017 and October 1, 2017, the covered entity (CE), Alere Toxicology, mailed a number of health insurers using clear envelope address windows that displayed 2,146 patients’ protected health information (PHI), due to an employee error. The types of PHI involved in the breach included demographic and health claims information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS and the affected individuals and provided credit monitoring and placed a 90 day fraud alert on individuals’ c...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Alere Toxicology data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,146 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 28, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from Alere Toxicology legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or Alere Toxicology.