Beware of fake COVID test kits in circulation, NAFDAC warns Nigerians
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified Nigerians of counterfeit BTNX Incorporated COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kits in circulation.
In a statement, NAFDAC said it was notified by Health Canada about the circulation of counterfeit kits.
According to NAN, the agency said the fake test kits were sold online in boxes of 25 packs by a distributor called Healthful Plus who does not have the required license.
The agency said that although the packaging of the counterfeit kits resembled the real thing and had the identifier “COV-19C25”, it was labeled as being made by ‘Health Advance Inc.’ instead of ‘BTNX Inc’.
“The genuine COVID-19 antigen test kit helps to detect certain proteins in the virus. Rapid antigen tests are designed to tell in a few minutes if someone is infected or not,” the statement said.
“It is recommended as a high-throughput test for people with symptoms, high-risk populations, and healthcare or casual workers.
“Counterfeit medical devices are imitations of authentic products. The safety and efficacy of these counterfeit test kits have not been evaluated.
“The original manufacturer BTNX Inc. has confirmed that the devices were fake.”
The agency advised wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and consumers to ensure that their products are sourced from authentic and trustworthy sources.
It also encouraged healthcare providers to increase vigilance within the supply chain and advised healthcare providers to avoid administering the product to unsuspecting patients.
NAFDAC said that anyone in possession of the counterfeit product should immediately stop the sale or use and send the stock to the nearest agency office.
Health care providers and consumers were also asked to report counterfeit health products to NAFDAC at 0800-162-3322 or email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.