Buffalo, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Inspector General has initiated a review into why insulin pens were reused at the VA Western New York Health Center.

During a routine inspection last November, VA officials discovered insulin pens for individual patients were not being properly labeled, making it possible the pens could have been used on multiple patients.

Although different needles are used to administer the insulin, reuse of the pens could transmit viruses such as HIV and hepatitis.

The VA of Western New York claims it did not get alerts back in 2009 from the FDA about the improper reuse of insulin pens.