CHINA PROBES ALLEGED HIV- POSITIVE BLOOD PLASMA PRODUCTS

THE National Health Commission (NHC) and the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration have begun an investigation after media reported that blood plasma products produced by a Shanghai pharmaceutical company were testedpositive with Human Immunode-ficiency Virus (HIV). However, the chances for patients to get infected with HIV are slim, authorities announced Wednesday. The product is intravenous immunoglobulin, an immune therapy treatment made of human blood plasma, and is aimed at curing immune diseases. It was produced by China Meheco Xinxing Pharma Co.. The company was ordered to suspend production of the products. A total of 12,226 50ml bottles of the product were issued and approved by the Shanghai food and drug testing institute under the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration, according to TheBeijingNews, noting that those batches of products are due to expire in June 2021.