In a statement issued on Friday, the health agency said counterfeit rapid response test kits were being sold online. The fake kits ostensibly come from one manufacturer – “Health Advance Inc.” — whose name and number are stickers on the box. The online distributor that sold them was “Healthful Plus”. However, an authentic kit is sealed with a clear sticker with blue lettering that says “QC APPROVED”. The manufacturer appears to no longer make the kits and the distributor’s website is no longer active, Health Canada said. On the counterfeit kit, Health Advance’s name and phone number along with the text “Official Canadian Distributor” and the unauthorized text “Approved by Health Canada” appear on the box. (Submitted by Health Canada) The entire shipment, which contained 435 boxes of the 25-pack kits, was purchased by a buyer for personal use and later sent to Health Canada. The health department says it has no evidence to suggest additional counterfeit kits have been distributed in Canada. Although similar to the original test kits, these fakes come in a green box, but the labeling is inaccurate, inconsistent and lists a company that Health Canada says does not have the required license to import, distribute or sell medical devices in the country. An authentic kit will include test cassettes, tube base, assay buffer, swabs, procedure card and package insert as shown here. Not shown here: exhaust pipes and nozzle filters. (Submitted by Health Canada) Health Canada also has not tested the safety and effectiveness of the counterfeit kits, it said in the advisory. If a kit is suspected to be counterfeit, people should not use it, throw it away and report it to Health Canada, the agency said.
