New Jersey laboratory is raided by the FBI after 'using antibody tests to detect active COVID-19 infections' - and everyone who went there is urged to get retested
FBI agents raided a New Jersey laboratory because it allegedly used finger prick blood tests commonly used as antibody tests to diagnose COVID-19 cases.
Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor, New Jersey, was offering finger prick blood tests to diagnose coronavirus cases in as little as ten minutes.
According to the FBI, those tests should be reserved for detecting the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, not active coronavirus cases.
Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor, New Jersey was raided for conducting improper tests to diagnose active COVID-19 cases by using finger prick blood tests
The FBI is encouraging residents to get retested elsewhere and contact the agency
Active cases should only be determined using saliva or nasal tests.
'As stated on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's website, 'rapid' finger prick blood tests for COVID-19 are antibody tests and should not be used for diagnosing active cases of COVID-19,' the FBI said in a public service announcement about the investigation.
'Only a test that uses a nasal swab or saliva should be used to diagnose active cases of COVID-19.'
NBC News reports the FBI raided Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory on Thursday without providing a specific reason.
The FBI recommended those who were tested at the facility to get retested elsewhere for more accurate results.
Nasal swabs and saliva tests are the approved ways of getting a test for COVID-19. Pictured: A traveler receiving a nasal swab prior to a flight at Los Angeles International Airport
Lines for coronavirus tests have increased as daily cases around the United States have spiked
They are also asking those who were tested at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory to contact the victim assistance unit of the FBI in connection with their investigation.
'Your response is voluntary but would be useful in a federal investigation,' the FBI wrote in a statement.
'Based on the response provided, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.'
'I think giving fake, inaccurate tests just makes a bad situation 10 times worse,' Brian Strahl said to NBC; he reportedly had staff members at his business get tested at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory. 'Because you're putting ... people at risk, and you're also giving people a false sense of security.'
'I think it's horrible,' Strahl concluded.
There have been over 14 million cases and 282,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States
The laboratory's appeal to the public likely increased recently as testing has soared along with coronavirus cases in the United States.
New Jersey reports there have been over 368,000 coronavirus cases in the state, including 15,485 confirmed deaths.
On Sunday, the state saw 6,046 new COVID-19 cases, the first time the state has reported over 6,000 new cases in a single day since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, the CDC reports 14,756,914 total cases in the United States and 282,268 deaths from the coronavirus.