Chinese watchdog warns it’s on the lookout for fake Covid-19 RAT kits
- Unauthorised products already on the market, says one approved test manufacturer
- Five companies approved to make the rapid antigen tests for public use
“[The administration will] severely crack down on violations of laws and regulations … on unauthorised production and operation of unregistered new coronavirus antigen detection tests,” it said on Saturday.
Unlike many other countries where the kits are widely used, China had not allowed them to be commercially available to the public.
Then on Friday the National Health Commission said anybody could use them for early detection of the coronavirus.
Five Chinese companies have approval to make the tests: Beijing Huaketai Biotechnology, Nanjing Vazyme Biotech, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech, Beijing Jinwofu Bioengineering Technology and a BGI Genomics subsidiary, Shenzhen Huada Yinyuan Pharmaceutical Technology.
A number of retail pharmacies, including the Shanghai-listed LBX Pharmacy Chain, have said they will soon start selling the kits in stores and online.
LBX said on Saturday that it had an agreement with Wondfo Biotech to sell the company’s Covid-19 antigen kits in its stores in 12 regions, including Shanghai and the provinces of Hunan and Jiangsu.