The startling truth about cheap cancer test kits sold everywhere

A tour through medical equipment sales areas in Hanoi, reporters saw many types of cancer test kits being offered for sale.

At some medical equipment stores on Phuong Mai Street, Dong Da District (Hanoi), there are many types of cancer test strips from many different countries being sold, such as China, America...

(Illustration)

Some sales staff said that each type of cancer will have a corresponding test strip such as test strips for liver, stomach, and prostate cancer. Regarding the selling price, at medical equipment stores on Phuong Mai Street (Dong Da), the selling price ranges from 25,000 VND - 35,000 VND/stick, such as the Sero - Check test strip from the US, which costs only 35,000 VND/stick.

Regarding the information about cancer test strips being sold on the market that can give results in just a few minutes, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Duc, former Director of K Hospital, Vice President of Vietnam Cancer Association affirmed: "That is a myth, currently there is no product that detects cancer by rapid testing that has been licensed for circulation."

Professor Duc added that to determine whether a person has cancer or not, many tests from low to high level are needed, because cancer is a very complicated disease and requires careful testing to be able to draw accurate conclusions.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Department of Medical Equipment and Construction (Ministry of Health) said that currently, the Ministry of Health has only licensed 1 unit to import 2 test strips to quickly detect substances in the blood that can cause cancer. These two products are AFP and CEA from Korea. However, these are not test strips to detect early cancer.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan added that after receiving information about the sale of many types of cancer detection test strips on the market, the Department of Medical Equipment and Construction coordinated with the Ministry of Health Inspectorate to plan an inspection and consider handling, because such advertising is not in accordance with regulations, not registered with the authorities and is unlicensed floating goods./.

According to Tien Phong