COVID-19: Rapid testing paused due to issues with Chinese kits

Indian Council of Medical Research has instructedstates to pause the use of Chinese rapid testing kits over concerns that they are faulty.

At least three Indian states have expressed dissatisfaction with the kits, claiming that they are malfunctioning and only have an accuracy of 5 per cent.

Rajasthan has outrightlyrefused to use them after its health officials found thatthe testsshowednegativeresults for even those whothey already knew were positive.

The kits are supposed to testthe presence of antibodies against the coronavirus pandemicfrom blood samples.

Previously, several countries including Spain, Turkey, Czech Republic and the Netherlandshave reported problems with kits.

They have returned thousands oftesting kitsand medical masks to China on the groundsof them being below standard or defective.

However, Beijing has denied any quality issues.In a statement last week, China said it attached "great importance to the export of medical products".

India imported almost one million kits from China to ramp up testing.