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Health Canada COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Health Warning Overview:
- Who: Health Canada has issued a health advisory on the risks associated with misuse, accidental ingestion or spillage of rapid antigen test kit solutions
- Why: Approximately 50 calls made to poison centres in Canada related to accidental exposure
- Where: Canada
After consumers made at least 50 calls to Canada’s poison centres reporting poisoning from the liquid in COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, the country’s health agency has released a health advisory urging caution with the tests.
In the advisory, Health Canada says the COVID-19 tests, which are widely distributed at retail stores and healthcare facilities across the country, should be kept away from children and pets and that users should not swallow the solution or let it come into eye or skin contact, wash hands thoroughly after use, and follow all instructions for proper disposal.
“If spillage occurs, rinse well with water,” the health advisory says.
Despite the risks associated with misuse or accidental ingestion or spillage of the tests, Health Canada has determined that the kits are safe and effective when used as intended.
“However, many test kits include liquid solutions with chemical preservatives, such as sodium azide and Proclin that may be poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, particularly in children and pets,” the agency says.
Small doses of sodium azide can lower blood pressure, and larger doses may cause more serious health effects, according to the notice. Proclin, which contains chemicals that can cause skin and eye irritation, as well as allergic reactions, is also found in many kits.
“Accidental ingestion or skin exposure to very small quantities of liquid solutions would not be expected to cause the serious effects associated with larger doses. However, even small quantities may cause effects in small children and pets,” the notice says.
Health Canada says it is aware of approximately 50 calls made to poison centres in Canada related to accidental exposure, which have resulted in minor health outcomes.
Meanwhile, in the US, approximately 200,100 Flowflex SARS-COV-2 Antigen Rapid Tests (Self-Testing) were recalled by the Food and Drug Administration in January as the tests were never granted approval by the agency. In a recall notice, the FDA says the tests have not been authorized for emergency use to test for COVID-19 and “cannot be determined to be adequately validated for the stated intended use.”
Have you ever had any difficulty using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test? Let us know in the comments section below!
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One thought on Liquid in COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests Poisons Consumers, Health Agency Urges Caution
I would like to submit a form for a claim for hand santitizer use, whereing masks and rapid antrogen tests. These tests are poison, so is the hand santizer and whereing masks at school when at work when you have asthma and you can’t breathe.