Return Rapid Antibody Kits From Two Chinese Firms: ICMR to States

Return Rapid Antibody Kits From Two Chinese Firms: ICMR to States

States have been advised to stop using kits procured from two Chinese companies.

The country's apex health research body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday, 27 April asked states to stop using the COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits procured from two Chinese companies, ‘Wondfo Biotech’ and ‘Guangzhou Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics’, and to return them to be sent back to the suppliers.

The health ministry also released a fact sheet on the procurement of rapid antibody test kits, stressing that ICMR has not made any payment whatsoever in respect of these supplies. The concerns came amidst reports of faulty results from these imported test kits, after which the ICMR had urged the states to not use them for two days until it carried its evaluation.

“Because of the due process followed (not going for procurement with 100% advance amount), GoI does not stand to lose a single rupee,” it said.

After receipt of some supplies, ICMR had again conducted quality checks on these kits in field conditions. In its press release, the ICMR stated that kits from Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics showed ‘wide variation in their sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance for surveillance purposes’.

In view of this, states are advised to stop using these kits procured from the above-mentioned companies and return them to be sent back to the suppliers.

Also Read: Chinese Embassy Responds to Issues with Rapid Testing Kits 

Importantly, the ICMR has maintained that RT-PCR swab test remains the best test for COVID-19 diagnosis and antibody tests are only for surveillance or epidemiological investigative purposes.

During the press briefing on Monday, the health ministry representative also reasserted the importance of RT-PCR tests, and said that India has enough for its use.

Meanwhile, a total of 6,184 COVID-19 patients have recovered so far, taking the recovery rate in the country to 22.17 per cent, the Health Ministry said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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