Pure Beauty

Covid-19: Superdrug accused of ‘profiteering’ from pandemic with antibody test

By Becky Bargh | Published: 2-Jun-2020

The retailer has since halted the production of its Covid-19 test after concerns were raised about its validity

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Health and beauty retailer Superdrug has been accused of “profiteering from a pandemic” after launching a coronavirus antibody test.

The £69 test, which is taken by a finger prick blood sample, identifies antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus by detecting the IgG protein that develops after infection.

If the sample is positive it means the person has had coronavirus at some point.

But instead of feeling a sense of relief, some consumers hit out at the retailer expressing their concern.

The test’s 97.5% accuracy rating also hit a nerve with one Labour MP.

Yvonne Fovargue said Superdrug was “playing on people’s fears” and that the price was “excessive” for a test that is not “completely accurate”.

In response, Superdrug told Cosmetics Business that

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