OTTAWA, Sept. 10, 2012 /CNW/ -
The issue:
CuraHerbDistributor (curaherbdistributor.com) is attempting to sell online unlicensed home-use HIV test kits for use with urine, saliva and blood samples. It is important to note that there are currently no HIV test kits authorized for home use in Canada.
CuraHerbDistributor's kits carry the "Home Aware" brand and have not been evaluated by Health Canada for safety and effectiveness. Accordingly, these kits may provide Canadians with false test results, such as a failure to indicate HIV in an infected individual, or indicate HIV when none is present.
In addition, CuraHerbDistributor is also attempting to sell online a number of other test kits under the "Home Aware" brand. Health Canada has not licenced "Home Aware" tests kits for any of the following conditions indicated on the website, namely syphilis, trichomonas vaginalis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis (B/C) or herpes simplex.
Who is affected:
What consumers should do:
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What Health Canada is doing:
Health Canada is reminding Canadian retailers that it is illegal to advertise or sell unlicensed HIV and STD test kits in Canada. In addition, Health Canada has alerted its international partners about Curaherbdistributor.com test kits available via the Internet.
Health Canada's It's Your Health series has articles on Medical Test Kits for Home Use and Buying Medical Devices over the Internet, as well as one on how to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS. To confirm whether a device is licensed in Canada, please refer to the Medical Devices Active Licence Listing (MDALL).
Health Canada is working with the Canadian Border Services Agency to prevent importation of all CuraHerbDistributor.com test kits and will continue to monitor the situation, take appropriate action and inform Canadians, when necessary.
http://files.newswire.ca/1043/hiv.pdf
For more information:
Consumers and health professionals wanting more information about this advisory from Health Canada can contact the Public Enquiries Line at 613-957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.
Media enquiries related to this Advisory should be directed to Health Canada Media Relations at 613-957-2983.
How to report side effects to health products:
Complaints involving test kits sold via the curaherbdistributor.com website or under the "Home Aware" brand or any other medical devices can be reported to the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-267-9675, or by writing to:
Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate
Health Canada
Address Locator: 2003D
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Related Health Canada Web content:
Stay connected with Health Canada and receive the latest advisories and product recalls using these social media tools: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/home-accueil/sm-ms/index-eng.php
Également disponible en français
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/09/10/20120910_C5184_DOC_EN_17615.pdf
SOURCE: Health Canada
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