Expired Malaria Test Kit Hits Market – FDA Warns

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has raised a red flag regarding the presence of some expired malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits being offered for sale on the Ghanaian market.

According to the authority, the SD Bio Line Malaria Test Kit though registered by the FDA with Lot Number 05CDC017A, had had its product information tampered with by some unscrupulous persons.

In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Mrs Delese Darko and addressed to various media houses, the authority called for immediate action from health facilities across the country to halt the sale of suspected expired malaria test kits.

“All healthcare professionals and facilities are to take note of the above and should not use such kits, if they have them in their possession,” the statement read.

The expired products are reported to have the following details: Code number, B303D; Manufacturing Date of “2018-03-09” and an altered Expiry date slated for “2020-03-08”.

Since these test kits could be purchased over the counter, the general public is to be cautious of its presence.

According to the statement, it is dangerous to conduct a malaria test using an expired RTD kit, which would undoubtedly produce a false result and may lead to inaccurate diagnosis.

Healthcare professionals are therefore reminded to notify the FDA of any expired product in their facilities for safe confiscation and disposal.

The FDA says steps are being taken to retrieve the said products from the market and further collaborating with various security agencies to arrest culprits.

Meanwhile, the FDA urges well-meaning persons to furnish it with information should they see the said product anywhere on the Ghanaian market.