India cancels China procurement orders as test kits received test 'faulty'

Efforts by an Indian agency to procure rapid antibody coronavirus test kits from China have come to naught, with the Indian government deciding to withdraw the "faulty" test kits from use and cancelling all procurement orders. The controversy around the efficacy and pricing of the rapid tests is set to change the way India now tests for the novel coronavirus.

On April 16, India received 500,000 rapid antibody testing kits from China, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) stating they would be used for understanding the coronavirus disease and not for diagnosing the infection.

On April 27, the ICMR sent out advisories to state governments to stop the use of kits. Multiple states claimed the rapid testing kits were showing inaccurate results. The Indian government has since cancelled its order.