The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned healthcare providers, patients, and the public about counterfeit and parallel-imported unregistered versions of VISITECT HIV Advanced Disease Test Kits circulating in Nigeria.
The agency issued the warning on Wednesday via its X handle in a notice titled Public Alert No. 011/2026.
According to NAFDAC, the Marketing Authorisation Holder of the product in Nigeria, Euro Specs International Nigeria Limited, confirmed the existence of counterfeit and parallel-imported unregistered versions being sold through unauthorised channels.
NAFDAC explained that “VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease assay is a rapid, instrument-free lateral flow test designed to identify patients with severe HIV (CD4 count < 200 cells/µL) within 40 minutes using blood samples.
“This assay is a vital diagnostic tool for resource-limited settings, helping to triage patients who require immediate advanced care. It offers high sensitivity in detecting low CD4 levels.”
The agency stated that falsified, unlicensed, and unregistered products pose significant risks to public health because they have not been evaluated and approved by NAFDAC, and therefore, their quality, safety, and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.
NAFDAC highlighted discrepancies between the genuine registered product and the counterfeit version.
(Punch)
