Federal Government Wasted $10 Million on COVID Tests That Didn’t Work, Watchdog Reveals

As the U.S. was scrambling to get its hands on enough Covid-19 rapid antigen tests, it gave a $10.3 million grant to a South Korean biotech company to help develop a new test. Now, the state of Utah has stopped using the test because of how inaccurate it is.

According to an investigation by Judicial Watch, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave the funding to South Korean biotech company GenBody.

Utah started using it in its state-run testing sites in December 2021. Then, in February 2022, Utah paused its use after finding out that its false negative rate was about 60 percent. While rapid tests are typically less accurate than PCR — polymerase chain reaction — tests, the high inaccuracy rate made the tests useless.

Whenever money is given for research and development, there’s a chance the new product won’t work. But why did a test with a 40 percent accuracy rate receive FDA approval?

It’s also worth questioning why this money went to a South Korean firm. The U.S. has some of the most brilliant scientists and most advanced biotech companies in the world. Why did that money have to leave the U.S.?

With all the misinformation, mixed signals, and confusion around the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the American people deserve clear and transparent information from their government.

The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com. This article originally appeared on RealClearPolicy.

Like this article? Check out the latest BASEDPolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or below:

Sign up for Our Email List

* indicates required
*By signing up for our email you consent to getting our emails directly in your inbox. These including our newsletter or other informational emails*

Our Latest Podcast

Related articles

This Texas university is violating the First Amendment by blocking a student drag show

Drag shows involving children have become a hot-button political...

Rand Paul and Chip Roy introduce bill to wrangle out of control NIH

Dr. Anthony Fauci was Director of the National Institute...

Biden’s budget would hurt economy in 3 huge ways, analysis finds

Earlier this month, President Biden released his budget proposal....