Clicks under fire after faulty pregnancy tests reveal false positive results
In testing the digital pregnancy tests constantly gave the result ‘pregnant’ when exposed to ordinary tap water.
The Clicks pregnancy test in question, which produces false positive results. Image: Twitter
Retail pharmacy company Clicks has been under the spotlight following the Business Insider South Africa’s investigation of the retailer’s digital pregnancy tests, reports City Buzz.
It has been found that Clicks is selling a home pregnancy test that gives false positives. In testing conducted by Business Insider South Africa, the Clicks digital pregnancy test constantly gave the result “pregnant” when exposed to ordinary tap water.
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In a statement, Clicks has since said it was withdrawing the products from its shelves.
“As a responsible health retailer, we take the well-being of our customers extremely seriously,” the retailer said.
I tested positive using this pregnancy tests, does that mean when clicks recall this pregnancy test I am no longer pregnant.😏 pic.twitter.com/Y8SAJfH92L
— kelbz (@Kelbz2) October 13, 2018
Imagine you took a pregnancy test with the Clicks shandis and it gave you a false positive , and you've been stressed for nothing 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Ngiyi Social Being (@Thembeka__) October 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/UnculturedSavag/status/1050746741069402112
It has also reportedly been revealed that the pregnancy tests supposedly created by Clicks are in fact manufactured in China by Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech. However, this means that the manufacturer is legally required to reveal its name on the packaging, and it is unclear why this did not occur.
This is exactly why you should never claim something to be yours when it’s not! I could easily name and shame a few players in my industry who do exactly this. https://t.co/xJYCsmCx6v
— Chelsea Anne Hornby (@chelsea_hornby) October 12, 2018
When posed questions about the tests, such as who the actual manufacturers are, and whether its packaging was misleading, Clicks refused to answer. The supposed manufacturer of the tests, Humor Diagnostica, a South African supplier of a wide range of tests, also failed to provide reasons as to why it was listed as the manufacturer when in fact it simply took the tests and placed them in Clicks packaging.
In the search to locate the actual manufacturer, Business Insider UK revealed that thousands of pregnancy tests were also recalled because of false positive results. These tests, called Clear & Simple brand digital pregnancy tests, is also manufactured by Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and sold in the UK, according to a statement from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
The article added that false positive pregnancy tests are generally quite rare and that a positive result usually means a woman is pregnant. In fact, false negatives are reportedly more common than false positive results.
All parties involved refused to comment until the investigation into the issue has been completed.
Additional information: Business Insider SA, Business Insider UK
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