U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

  1. Home
  2. Medical Devices
  3. Medical Device Safety
  4. Safety Communications
  5. Do Not Use Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test: FDA Safety Communication
  1. Safety Communications

Do Not Use Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test: FDA Safety Communication

​Español​

UPDATE – February 8, 2023: The FDA is updating this Safety Communication to include Universal Meditech Inc. as an additional distributor of the unapproved Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test. These unapproved tests were separately distributed and were not included in the May 2022 communication.   

Date Issued: May 10, 2022

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning people not to use the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold). This test is not authorized, cleared, or approved by the FDA for distribution or use in the United States. The FDA is concerned about the risk of false results when using this test because neither SML Distribution LLC, nor Universal Meditech Inc., has provided the FDA with adequate data to show the test works correctly.

On March 4, 2022, SML Distribution LLC issued a recall for the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold), and the FDA has identified this issue as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall.

On November 28, 2022, Universal Meditech Inc. issued a recall  for the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold), and the FDA has identified this issue as a Class I recall, the most serious type of the recall.

The FDA has not received reports of injuries or death associated with use of the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold).

Recommendations for Test Users, Caregivers, and Health Care Personnel

Do not use Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold).

  • Test users and caregivers: Talk to your health care provider if you were tested with the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold) and you have concerns about your test results.
  • Health care personnel: If your patient was tested with the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold) in the last 2 weeks and you suspect an inaccurate result, consider retesting your patients using an FDA-authorized SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test. If testing was performed more than two weeks ago, and there is no reason to suspect current SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is not necessary to retest.
  • Report any problems you experience with the Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold) to the FDA, including suspected false results. See Reporting Problems with Your Test.

Device Description

The unauthorized Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Colloidal Gold) uses a nasal swab sample to detect proteins, called antigens, from the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It uses one of two types of swab samples: nasal (anterior nares) or nasopharyngeal.

Tests distributed by Universal Meditech Inc. may also have been distributed in plain white boxes without branding or in boxes with a Skippack Medical label that bears the brand name “DiagnosUS.”

Potential Risk of False Test Results

  • False-negative antigen test results mean that the test says the person does not have COVID-19, but they actually do have COVID-19. A false-negative result may lead to delayed diagnosis or inappropriate treatment of SARS-CoV-2, which may cause people harm including serious illness and death. False-negative results can also lead to further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including when people are housed together in health care, long-term care, and other facilities based on these false test results. When false negative test results are received, actions to limit exposure to an infected person might not be taken, such as isolating people, limiting contact with family and friends, or limiting access to places of employment.
  • False-positive antigen test results mean that the test says the person has COVID-19 but they actually do not have COVID-19. A false-positive result may lead to a delay in both the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment for the actual cause of a person’s illness, which could be another life-threatening disease that is not COVID-19. False-positive results could also lead to further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus when presumed positive people are housed together.

FDA Actions

The FDA has classified the recalls for these tests, distributed by SML Distribution LLC or Universal Meditech Inc., as Class I recalls, the most serious type of recall.

The FDA regularly monitors the marketing of unauthorized, unapproved, or uncleared tests, including reports of problems with test performance or results. The FDA is providing this information to help educate test users, caregivers, health care personnel, and the public and to reduce the risk of false test results that could lead to serious illness and death.

The FDA will keep the public informed if significant new information becomes available.

Reporting Problems with Your Test

If you think you had a problem with a SARS-CoV-2 test, the FDA encourages you to report the problem through the MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.

Health care personnel employed by facilities that are subject to the FDA's user facility reporting requirements should follow the reporting procedures established by their facilities.

Questions?

If you have questions about this Safety Communication, email the Division of Industry and Consumer Education (DICE) at DICE@FDA.HHS.GOV or call 800-638-2041 or 301-796-7100.

Back to Top