MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minneapolis VA Medical Center says it has postponed a number of surgical procedures after an "unidentified substance" was discovered in the sterilizing equipment.

In a statement, the medical center says until the substance is identified — and the equipment cleaned, inspected and certified — the Minneapolis VA has rescheduled most surgeries for the remainder of the week.

Those surgeries will be rescheduled for a future date.

WCCO-AM reports the VA has sent the substance to a laboratory for analysis.

The hospital says a number of emergency procedures would be moved to either the University of Minnesota or another Twin Cities hospital.

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