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Rapid tests are supposed to detect antibodies in the blood of people who have had Covid-19
India has canceled orders for around half a million Chinese rapid test kits after they were found “faulty” in field conditions.
Delhi has also recalled kits that were already in use in various states.
These kits are supposed to detect antibodies in the blood of people who may have had a coronavirus infection.
They take around 30 minutes to deliver a result and help authorities quickly understand the scale of infection in a particular area.
However, rapid test kits cannot detect the coronavirus itself, and several scientists have raised concerns about its use for diagnosis.
Meanwhile, China has rejected India’s claims.
“The quality of medical products exported from China is prioritized. It is unfair and irresponsible for certain people to label Chinese products as ‘defective’ and consider the problems with preventive bias,” said Chinese embassy spokesman Ji Rong in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Several states had been lobbying the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) to allow testing of the kits amid concerns that India was not testing closely enough.
The ICMR was initially reluctant, but it cleared the way, importing kits from two Chinese companies.
Soon after, however, states began to complain that the kits had an accuracy rate of only 5%, adding that they had used the kits in patients they already knew were positive, but the tests had shown a result. ” negative “for the antibodies.
The test kits also failed quality controls by the ICMR.
On Monday, the issue was further complicated after the Delhi high court capped the price of the evidence and suggested that the government had overpaid.
However, officials told local media that the government “will not lose a single rupee” for canceling the order kits, as they had not prepaid the amount and had canceled the entire shipment.
