A Dutch biotechnology company sold corona tests from China, which had a high chance of giving an incorrect result. That reports Faithful after investigation by investigative journalism platform Investico, in collaboration with journalist collective OCCRP. The tests are designed to look for antibodies in the blood, which should indicate whether a tested person has been infected.
According to the seller, the tests in question could give results in ten minutes, but two scientific studies indicate that these results would be very unreliable.
In addition, according to the Dutch Outbreak Management Team and the European Commission, such rapid tests have not yet been developed. The wrong result of such a test can give a person a false sense of security, if they wrongly think they have already had the virus.
The tests were also sold as ‘made in the Netherlands’, while they were produced in China. The company in question denies both claims against it Faithful, but would have removed the term ‘Dutch-made’ from the website after questions from the newspaper. The company also defends the quality of the tests.
The tests are in circulation in more than twenty countries, including in Dutch hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies. According to Faithful the test can enter the market uncontrollably. The Healthcare Inspectorate only looks at tests that are sold to individuals, while the company in question says it is selling to healthcare professionals.
However, the tests are said to end up with individuals through intermediaries, such as those who work in the medical sector and resell the tests to third parties.
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