COVID-19 can live in the body without symptoms. People do not even notice the disease and infects others. People sighed with relief when Russia came the rapid tests for detection of antibodies to coronavirus. It was akin to a miracle: in 15 minutes you can learn whether the body is affected by the virus and what stage of the disease. That’s just a miracle threatens to turn into a nightmare because of “speculators”, which everywhere offer counterfeit tests for coronavirus with questionable results. For more details risky for health investigation.
First the good. To quickly defeat the pandemic, Moscow began to carry out mass free rapid testing. Prior to that, the city authorities conducted a strict selection of rapid tests and chose the most effective results of clinical trials.
the Choice was not easy. The tests involved 7 rapid tests: Dutch, German and five Chinese (including the tests of the Chinese company, which will be discussed later).
Best results were shown by Dutch Biozek Medical tests. These tests checked the first medical workers that largely helped to avoid mass infection with coronavirus. And may free testing citizens began to carry out medical institutions and enterprises of Moscow.
However, there were those who knocks people off stride. In the Internet there are a lot of offers rapid tests “for home use”. Why wait, buy and test the whole family. Just imagine: you are offered to undergo a medical examination with taking of blood somewhere in your kitchen or bathroom!
But are wanting. Ads of questionable rapid tests flashes everywhere. A living example: we recently published on the website text about the diagnosis of coronavirus. Tricky Internet system for selecting targeted advertising at once gave a banner with the offer to purchase rapid tests. This marketing onslaught is hard to resist. Fear and panic are the best helpers unscrupulous “sellers of air”.
the Journalists of “MK” has decided to check how easy it is to buy a counterfeit rapid tests and what results they will show. Moreover, in search of the truth we believe is attractive and will do a test yourself. But be warned: do not try this at home!
COVID will be given antibodies
What is speed tests and how good their quality? Tests for coronavirus are held on the IHA methodology: immunochromatographic rapid test shows infected whether the person is currently or has suffered from infection previously. The test is a plastic plate with the cell for a biological material (droplets of blood from the finger) and the results pane.
after 10-15 minutes after start of the reaction of blood with buffer solutionstart to show stripes. One stripe around the control strips should always be. When it appeared nothing, then, no antibodies and a person is not sick. But the location of the second strips when it appears will reveal what stage of the disease. The disease will show the presence of “fast” antibodies of class IgM. If a person already recovered from the infection and were immune to re-infection, it will appear “long” IgG antibodies. In General, it’s simple as a pregnancy test.
the rapid tests are quick and convenient. There are other ways of analysis, and the final result gives a symbiosis of all ways. Before the advent of Express-systems analysis was performed by the method of PCR (polymerase chain reaction), ELISA (immunofermentnyj analysis) or CT was performed. However, these types of research more complex and lengthy, require the use of laboratory equipment. In particular, PCR requires compliance with strict rules for the collection and preservation of biological material, the violation of which affects the result of the analysis. Now they continue to appoint, and will appoint those who have suspected COVID-19 the results of the rapid tests. In this case the accuracy is paramount.
to understand is formed population immunity in the population, and to identify those who need treatment, the authorities of Moscow and started the mass testing of people in the capital. From the results of the rapid test depends largely on the speed restrictions.
the Main rule: in accordance with the recommendations of the health Ministry to take the analysis only the health care provider at the medical facility. In addition, the health Ministry warned about the dangers of using counterfeit medical products: “the Use of counterfeit goods in the course of diagnostic procedures, threatens the life and health of citizens.” However, the fraudsters, the law does not apply the recommendations of healthcare too.
Fixed: rapid tests can only be carried out by a health provider. Amateur dangerous to health.
In search of the “grey” rapid tests
Our search for counterfeit tests begin with simple steps. Entered into the search engine: “buy the rapid tests for coronavirus”. The phrase is not even necessary to introduce before the end. On popular request Google immediately gives the result.
For multiple search pages – Val offers. Quiz for 3900 rubles, 4000 rubles, 4500 rubles. Then – even more interesting. Buy and hold “test COVID-19 at home in Moscow” offers a well-known online store.
Flipping on the search page next. A secular newspaper published an article stating that one famous TV presenter makes herself and two-year-old test for the coronavirus. Just a thought: can’t be, it’s fake. What sane person will hold medicines��tion procedure at home?
But no. It is true. TV presenter published a photo-report in Instagram and wrote: “At home you can do a test on Covid19 and antibodies. Conveniently, no need to go to the medical establishment. Do periodically”. And that’s not all: she gives a link to the account where you can order the test. However, then the post was deleted. Rather, it was advertising. I can only imagine how much cost this is a blogger with an audience of almost 4 million people. Apparently, sellers of counterfeit tests can afford it.
the account simply provides: “the Tests covid19 in stock in Moscow. To direct”. While there’s a lot of “grateful” photo and video reviews. That’s just nervous it is better not to see. Here’s a woman unpacks a package of syringes. On another video the girl herself takes blood from a finger. The funny thing is that “caring” sellers along with tests bring the customer a bottle of the cheapest champagne. What does not attract buyers!
We found, and other similar accounts: “TESTS with docks ANTIBODY”, “the Tests used in the clinics!”, “Make test right now, sometimes the disease is without symptoms!”
the sellers specifically put pressure on something that was supposedly “no-call doctor will be cheaper” and “discounts for bulk purchases: check yourself and the kids.” It’s a marketing manipulation in its purest form: the sellers are capitalizing on the fear and the falling incomes of people during a pandemic.
so, the fact of sale of counterfeit tests were confirmed: they spread through social networks, instant messengers, websites. Where did these tests come from and by whom are they made?
rapid tests to sell to builders and bakers
Among the stream of sentences are the most common rapid tests Beijing company “Lepu Medical Technology”. This company manufactures medical equipment. We decided to purchase these tests.
But first, climb on the website Roszdravnadzor, to see whether the registered tests “Lepu”. Find information on the registration of five series of tests the Chinese firm.
However, nothing surprising. The authorities have now simplified the registration process for certain medical products: during a pandemic, not to the bureaucracy. According to the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 430 of April 3, 2020 medical devices related to the prevention of a pandemic, are Express check. Clinical studies in abbreviated form and the term of the license for such products – only until the first of January 2021. In this case a simplified procedure for clinical trials allows you to test the individual series of tests. As it turned out, “Lepu Medical Technology” took advantage of this.
With all the oversupply test “Lepu” on the market was only five episodes. And registruzione ID on 15 may, a major Russian pharmaceutical company. The company is large, reputable. However, on the company website about the tests is not a word. In recent news, the company’s name appears, except that in connection with the testing of drugs against coronavirus. But the name of the company flaunt the sellers rapid tests. Apparently in order to seem more convincing. One such “official distributor” we entered into conversation.
the Seller immediately offered the option of payment – Bank transfer and even sent details. That’s what we need. Punched details and information about the firm. It turns out that activity of company is wholesale trade of timber. And the CEO of the company, he is its only employee, the medicine has no relation. As we found out, he is the former pastry chef from Dagestan.
something is not convincing. We continue the search. Another account on Instagram brings us to the girl who introduced Julia.
– Sell the real and very accurate tests. Take for 2300 rubles, test yourself, wife, kids even. View the user manual and house themselves will do, says the girl on that end of the tube.
We’re pretending to be in doubt whether to buy. Required to show documentation. Julia does not reduce the pressure: “We wholesale a party was sent to Parliament (and calls one of the republics). There complained. Even the documents are not required, like you.”
To prove she even sends a video where he calls the current date and shows the box with the tests.
In the end, give in to the pressure of Julia: “Okay, let’s get one on trial.”
the Scheme is this: the parcel will be delivered by the courier, and then you need to send money by phone number. For shipping, of course, paid by the buyer. Together with the delivery of one test cost 2700 rubles.
After obtaining a trial test an idea to take a full role in 20 pieces. a Official distributors of quality tests so they put: the party consists of boxes, each box of 30 pieces of tests, the same pipettes, and 2 bottles of buffer solution in a box.
In the same package with a single counterfeit test solution was also – in a small plastic flask. It says: SODIUM CHLORIDE 0.9% and 5 ml. Out, sterile vial out of the box once shared and poured their samples. Or they had to get something else?
Julia called Again to arrange a new purchase, to continue the conversation about the origin of the tests and figure out how to spill the extraction buffer.
How do you share the solution with the buffer on a single test if it is the one on the box?
We recreated the original formula of the solution and found a replacement.
– And yet, Julia, and where you took these tests? Unable to prove his relevant to the company-recipient of the registration certificate?
– Well, I’ll tell you like it is. My husband is the owner of a private clinic. He has a close friend, member of the Board of Directors of the company receiving the registration certificate of Roszdravnadzor (calls the company). Tests quality. We went to Sheremetyevo customs clearance. Take wholesale, will make a discount.
discounts, Discounts… Who among us does not sin in order to buy a discount? She offers a wholesale price for a box of tests from 20 pieces – 1750 rubles apiece, only 35 thousand rubles, including delivery.
And here we have a cherished box of blue and white colors of the rapid tests.
a Few of them we have to try out for yourself. Prior experience we decided to show them to doctors. According to the experts, to whom we showed the purchased samples, in appearance and to the touch recognized them Chinese Express tests.
Struck them and the instruction in Russian. It was similar to the report of the fifth grader who did it hastily before class, distribute the text excerpts from Wikipedia: messy and unclear. But on each page adorned with blue poorly legible stamps simple blue pen “Certified 25.05.2020”.
Upon closer examination you can see that is a stamp of a company “Sigma the trade”. We’re not even surprised when he learned that the firm had nothing to do with medicine. It is engaged in selling construction materials. Under the designation “LOT” is specified as a series test. When you do this test with such a combination the registration certificate of Roszdravnadzor did not. Well, in this difficult time and the builders and sellers of timber products by infectious diseases!
As the tests on the “gray” market get
Before conducting a dangerous experiment with the rapid tests left to figure out one more thing: how did they get to the sellers?
Answers to us anonymously gave the staff of the clinical centers where the clinical studies. According to our interlocutors, the testing process is as follows: the company claims the test, enters into a contract with meduchrezhdenijj where there are samples of biological material infected with the “kovida”. The company pays the medical institution, the cost of research – about 500 thousand rubles for run-in same series.
For the study, doctors selected about 100-120 samples of biological material of healthy, sick patients with coronavirus and other human diseases. The main performance criteria of the test is its ability to find among all the samples, the sample with antibodies and the absence of false-positive results from all samples. Effective is test, showed the result of over 90%.
As we have seen, Chinese production tests “Lepu Medical Technology” was tested in the clinical center��. At the same time in the laboratory was presented for tests of the five series that are registered by Roszdravnadzor, and much more. Apparently, the other series of test not passed.
Q: where were the tests that did not pass clinical trials? After testing them destroyed? Or sent back to the sellers? Or… leaked on the grey market? Do not these ineffective tests is now trying to sell to gullible people on the Internet?
what if the infringing party brought specially for the “grey” sales and did not plan to register? Who are they delivered? Why serious a large company, have received registration in Roszdravnadzor, don’t care what the company was tests sold on the Internet breaking the rules? These questions are anonymous interlocutors of the clinical centers did not answer.
And the answers are very necessary. But to give them to the public needs of government and law enforcement officials.
This is no joke. The Russians unscrupulously bred for the purchase of Express-tests of dubious effectiveness. Scary to imagine a situation where someone will pass independent testing and receive a false negative result. People calm down, go to the store, take the bus, go to work, and pereskazhet all around ignorance to the truth.
Do government, regulatory authorities and reputable medical company is not interested in having to hurry to beat the pandemic? If not, why not pay attention (or blind eye) to the situation with counterfeit and substandard rapid tests? Please consider this article an official appeal to all competent authorities, responsible for regulation of medical products.
the Results of a shocking validation of journalists “MK” purchased rapid tests in the next issue of the newspaper and on the website MK.RU.
