The Pilot Covid-19 At-Home Test Kits were distributed through CVS branches nationwide and also sold through Amazon. Then the FDA scrambled to have them recalled and immediately destroyed after the liquid in the testing kit was found positive for different strains of bacteria. But it was too late, as more than 500,000 test kits were distributed. Now, the FDA is calling on the general public to immediately destroy the kits they bought if it has a lot number listed on their spreadsheet found online.
With the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, home test kits became even more popular. The relatively “new normal” situations all over the country made it more convenient for people having symptoms to just stay at home and buy a test kit from their local CVS or online through Amazon.
But in doing so, they are put at a different risk – not Covid-19, but a bacterial infection. It seems that some test kits examined by the FDA contained bacteria like Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Serratia, and Enterobacter, which also pose a risk for immunocompromised people.
Once the results came out, the FDA immediately took steps to take out any suspected test kit in the market. They recalled more than half a million of said kits.
According to further investigation, it seems that the bacteria was able to contaminate the test kit fluids through the raw materials from one of the suppliers during the manufacturing process. SD Biosensor, the company that made the suspected test kits said that they are no longer working with that supplier, but the stocks on the market are being called back nonetheless by the FDA.
So if you recently bought a Covid-19 home testing kit, you can check FDA’s website and see your kit’s lot number to make sure it’s not included in the contaminated list.