Gov’t to look into reported inaccurate Covid-19 test results

A mobile specimen collection vehicle was stationed at the section of Canton Road between Jordan Road and Saigon Street to conduct free testing for the residents on Jan. 16. (Information Services Department/info.gov.hk)

The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) said it will look into a confirmed Covid-19 case in Yau Tsim Mong who tested negative for the coronavirus twice but ended up being positive upon admission to the hospital.

In a statement Friday, the bureau said it has contacted the Hospital Authority and the two testing providers in question to obtain more information about the case.

The laboratory contractors of the testing services were the Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Centre and KingMed Diagnostics (Hong Kong) Limited.

“Both laboratories have participated with satisfactory performance in the external quality assurance programme of the Department of Health, and have the medical testing accreditation of the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme,” the FHB statement read.

The bureau said it has also engaged a member of the government’s expert advisory panel to help with follow-up, adding that it will announce information once available.

Local media earlier reported that a Nepalese man, aged 42, who lived in Jordan had availed of community testing twice since the onset of his symptoms more than two weeks ago.

He reportedly went to a community centre on Jan. 15 and a mobile testing facility on Jan. 18, which both returned negative Covid-19 test results.

When he called an ambulance on Jan. 18 so he can be brought to the Kwong Wah hospital, he was reported to have tested positive the next day.

The areas of Jordan and Yau Ma Tei have been the hotspots of recent coronavirus infections, prompting health officials to impose a mandatory testing order on buildings in specified zones of those areas.

ADVERTISEMENT (Click to know more)