‘Prejudice’ in India’s claims
Wondfo denies allegations over COVID-19 kits
China’s Foreign Ministry and China’s Embassy to India on Tuesday refuted claims by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) alleging COVID-19 test kits it purchased from Chinese companies were not working, saying poor storage, transportation and use of the kits could all result in inaccurate testing results.
“We are deeply concerned with the evaluation results and the decision made by the ICMR. China attaches great importance to the quality of exported medical products,” the Chinese embassy said, noting that it has been in close contact with the ICMR and the two Chinese companies involved to clarify the situation.
The ICMR recently announced it had advised several states to stop using kits purchased from Chinese companies Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics Inc, and to send them back to the two companies. The research group claimed that an evaluation of the test kits revealed a “wide variation in their sensitivity.”
The embassy said that Indian states should strictly abide by the methods and purposes described in ICMR’s clear instructions, according to which these rapid antibody test kits should only be used for surveillance purposes instead of confirmation of COVID-19 cases.
“The quality of medical products exported from China is prioritized. It is unfair and irresponsible for certain individuals to label Chinese products as ‘faulty’ and view issues with preemptive prejudice,” it said, expressing hope that India can respect China’s goodwill and sincerity, and strengthen communication in a timely manner with the two Chinese companies based on facts.
Wondfo said it was “surprised and disappointed” with the ICMR’s decision. “The Wondfo SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test (Lateral Flow Method) was one of the first tests to receive an import license from India and has been validated and approved by the ICMR through the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune,” the company told the Global Times on Tuesday.
The firm said it is confident in the quality of its products, which comply with standards both in China and importing countries.
Every batch of test kits underwent strict quality checks before delivery, and they met the relevant rules and requirements for product registration, production and sales, Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics told the Global Times on Tuesday.
“We will continue to communicate with the ICMR, learn about the reported issues and keep the lines of communication open,” Livzon Diagnostics said, noting the firm hopes to resolve the problem properly.
An industry insider said that China accounts for at least 50 percent of the international supply of COVID-19 test kits. The nucleic acid test kits developed by Chinese companies are of world-class quality and accuracy, on par with those developed by large foreign companies, the insider said.
“The accuracy of nucleic acid tests is affected by the characteristics of the virus, the product itself as well as the collection, storage, and transport of samples. Taking tests at the appropriate time is crucial to get accurate antibody tests,” he said.