Covid-19 instances are still on the rise, resulting in long queues at testing centers and empty shelves at retailers where at-home fast test kits were once available.
A new issue has emerged: the Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning about phony testing kits being marketed online to desperate buyers.
“It’s no surprise that, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, opportunistic scammers are taking advantage of the jump in demand by selling phony and unapproved at-home testing kits online,” the FTC said in a press statement this week.
However, testing kits are in short supply and becoming increasingly expensive, causing some consumers to look for them online or elsewhere.
Scammers selling bogus kits, on the other hand, should be avoided.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus self-tests, also known as home testing or over-the-counter tests, are one of the numerous risk-reduction techniques that can safeguard people by minimizing the odds of coronavirus spreading (CDC). The CDC claims that these tests can be done at home or anywhere, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms, and that they are simple to use and provide speedy results.
What to Look for in a Fake Test Kit
Before purchasing and utilizing a testing kit, the FTC recommends that you complete these four steps:
1. Purchase only tests that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s website lists more than 40 FDA-approved home tests, some of which are age-restricted. These tests are available for purchase online, at pharmacies, and in some retail locations.
2. Make sure the test kit you’re about to buy, or the company you’re going to buy it from, isn’t on the FDA’s list of phony Covid-19 goods.
3. Before making a purchasing selection, look at a range of suppliers and evaluate reputable reviews from authoritative sources such as medical professionals or health organizations.
To discover the scammers, the FTC suggested searching the Internet for the supplier of the at-home testing kits combined with phrases like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review.”
“Using these phony medicines isn’t simply a waste of money; it also puts you at danger of unintentionally spreading Covid-19 or not receiving the proper treatment,” according to the FTC.
4. If you decide to buy a testing kit online, make sure you use your credit card so you can dispute the charge if it turns out to be a fraud.
“Using these phony medicines isn’t simply a waste of money; it also puts you at danger of unintentionally spreading Covid-19 or not receiving the proper treatment,” according to the FTC.
In addition, make sure the kit you’re about to purchase isn’t out of date.
The significance of being tested.
While the highly transmissible Omicron form continues to increase Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the United States, health experts warn it is vital that Americans continue to follow safe infection prevention procedures.
Regular testing, even if you’re not sick or exhibiting symptoms, is one of these procedures.
Unfortunately, supply cannot keep up with demand, and with Omicron becoming more contagious, testing will become more critical than ever, according to Mara Aspinall, professor of practice at Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions.
Last month, Aspinall told CNN, “We are in a very, very precarious moment.” “Out of all of this, testing is our only way out.”
According to Johns Hopkins University, Covid-19 has killed at least 833,987 people and infected roughly 58.5 million people in the United States.
