The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and health providers to stop using and toss out certain Pilot COVID-19 At-Home tests sold at CVS and Amazon due to “significant concerns” of bacterial contamination.
Manufacturer SD Biosensor is recalling some 500,000 tests distributed to CVS Health and 16,000 tests distributed to Amazon by Roche Diagnostics. The FDA and Roche Diagnostics are working to determine how many of the kits were sold to consumers.
None of the contaminated tests were distributed through the government’s free COVID test programs. If you received your tests via COVID.gov/tests, or as part of a federal testing program, they are not subject to the recall.
The FDA issued an advisory saying there are concerns the liquid solution provided with the kit was contaminated with bacterias such as enterococcus, enterobacter, klebsiella and serratia species and that direct contact with it could cause an infection.
In particular, FDA said these types of bacteria may cause illness in people with weakened immune systems or those with direct exposure to the contaminated liquid solution through standard handling, accidental spills, or misuse of the product. What’s more, the bacterial contamination could impact the accuracy of the test.
How to stay safe
If you have one of the contaminated kits, the FDA said to throw it in the trash and to avoid flushing the liquid solution down the drain. If the liquid in the tube contacts your skin and eyes, flush with large amounts of water. If irritation persists, the FDA said to seek medical attention.
Be on the lookout for signs of a bacterial infection which include fever, discharge, and red eyes. If those are present or any other concerning symptoms arise, contact your doctor. If you have concerns about the result of one of these tests, talk to your healthcare provider.
If you think you had a problem with the SD Biosensor Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Test, the FDA encourages you to report the problem through the MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.
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