MIAMI -- Officials said about 3,260 patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Miami should be tested for HIV, hepatitis and other diseases after receiving colonoscopies with equipment that was not properly sterilized.

Hospital officials sent a letter to patients who underwent an endoscopy at the VA Medical Center in Miami in the last five years, warning them that they should undergo tests for possible infections, WPLG-TV reported.

The VA insisted the risk of infection was minimal and only involved tubing on endoscopic equipment, not any device that actually made contact with a patient.

"The likelihood is small that there could be a backflow or back-flush from a previous patient and that that could impact them, patients. down the line," said Dr. John Vara, the VA chief of staff.

Doctors said they came across the error during a review of procedures and have made the appropriate changes.

"At the time the discrepancy was noted, the procedures with that equipment were stopped, and the equipment in question was taken out of service for review," Vara said.

It is the second such announcement of errors during colonoscopies at VA facilities. Last month, 6,378 patients at a clinic in Murfreesboro, Tenn., were told they may have been exposed to infectious body fluids during colonoscopies. Additionally, the VA said 1,800 veterans treated at an ear, nose and throat clinic in Augusta, Ga., were alerted they could have been exposed to an infection due to improper disinfection of an instrument.

Patients who underwent procedures with an endoscope between May 2004 and March 12, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in Miami can call 1-877-575-7256 for more information.