India not to use COVID-19 test kits from two Chinese firms

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday asked state governments of the country to stop using coronavirus testing equipment brought from China because of conflicting results.

More than half a million kits for testing for antibodies to coronavirus were ordered from China this month as a way to ramp up India's screening, reports Reuters.

But the ICMR said several states had complained about the quality of the equipment from two firms and these need to be sent back to China.

"ICMR, thereafter, has also evaluated the kits of Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics. The results have shown wide variation in their sensitivity, despite early promise of good performance for surveillance purposes."

"In view of this, States are advised to stop using these kits procured from above mentioned companies and return them to be sent back to the suppliers," it said.