Consumer Council Launches Test Kit Search Tool

The Consumer Council on Wednesday announced the launch of a new search tool for people to look up Covid-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) approved by authorities.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the watchdog urged consumers to be cautious when buying rapid tests, noting it had received 48 relevant complaints since January 14 over a range of issues, including their quality and authenticity.

“There were a couple of cases [suspecting] the product is a counterfeit, or maybe the product quality is fairly substandard,” said Gilly Wong, the council’s chief executive.

“That’s why it’s important for consumers, when they purchase the test kits, you really have to go for more credible shops.”

But its chairman, Paul Lam, acknowledged that there is no mandatory regulation in place in the city on the importation and sale of such products – although the Department of Health has recommended and approved a number of RAT kits.

“The system implemented in Hong Kong is a voluntary-based Medical Device Administrative Control System. This is a system that we need to work with for the time being,” he said.

“So I would urge traders to make best use of the existing system, in order to assist the consumers to identify goods or products which have fulfilled the government’s requirement.”

Lam said the Consumer Council’s new search engine also provides reference from approved lists from the mainland, the European Union, and the United States.

He called on consumers not to stockpile test kits, and said vendors should fulfill their corporate social responsibility and not jack up prices.

Lam added that a pricier kit doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more effective, and rather, buyers should look at the sensitivity and specificity when purchasing the products.