Alert over faulty pregnancy tests

Updated 18.36 Fri Jun 08 2007

Keywords: clearview, kit, women, pregnancy

At least one woman was misled into thinking she was not pregnant after receiving a test from a faulty batch, it has been revealed.

The revelation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) means tens of thousands of women may have to retake a pregnancy test.

There are fears that some of the tests, which have been in circulation since March, may also have been used in GP surgeries and clinics

There are fears that some of the tests, which have been in circulation since March, may also have been used in GP surgeries and clinics.

Patients at around 50 hospitals across the UK are affected by the warning over Clearview HCG tests, made by Inverness Medical Innovations. One batch - LOT HG0050 - was found to be faulty, with investigations indicating 44 tests were affected.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said any woman worried about her test should contact her GP or hospital, or carry out another test at home.

Unipath, a division of Inverness Medical Innovations, recalled the tests but said home testing kits bought at pharmacies were not affected.

A spokeswoman for the company refused to name the affected hospitals, saying they were customers and the company protected their confidentiality.