Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Despite Last-Minute Changes, Senate Bill Deals Big Blow to Renewable Energy

9 hours ago

Trump-Backed Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Passes US Senate

10 hours ago

Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App

11 hours ago

Israeli Officials to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Washington Amid Military Escalation in Gaza

12 hours ago

Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support

12 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

1 day ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

1 day ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

1 day ago
FDA Recalled COVID-19 Tests From Fresno Lab Linked to Illegal Reedley Facility
By admin
Published 2 years ago on
August 1, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

COVID-19 tests distributed by a licensed Fresno medical lab with links to an illegal lab in Reedley were recalled in 2022 by the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA called the Class I recall “the most serious type of recall” as the devices may cause serious injuries or death.

In May 2022, the FDA recalled 56,300 COVID tests from Pennsylania-based SML Distribution LLC.  In February of this year, the FDA added Universal Meditech Inc. to the recall.

Neither company provided the FDA with data showing the tests worked correctly, according to a news release from the FDA.

The FDA called the Class I recall for Skippack Medical Lab SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 “the most serious type of recall” as the devices may cause serious injuries or death.

“Universal Meditech Inc. is recalling Skippack Medical Lab COVID-19 Direct Antigen Rapid Tests (Colloidal Gold) because these tests were distributed to U.S. customers without authorization, clearance or approval from the FDA,” the FDA stated.

Inadequate Testing Data Provided, Says FDA

“Neither Universal Meditech Inc. nor SML Distribution LLC, has provided the FDA with adequate data to show that the test’s performance is accurate. This means there is a risk of potential false negative, false positive, or misinterpretation of results.”

While the company never received complaints about injuries or deaths, the FDA said the product may cause serious adverse health consequences including death.

Landlord Sought Universal Meditech’s Eviction in Fresno

GV Wire has also learned that the landlord for Universal Meditech had sought eviction for the business located in North Pointe Business Park in south central Fresno.

A complaint filed by Proper Defense Law Corp. in February 2023 against Universal Meditech Inc. as well as a number of its officers and associated other businesses, accused company officials of “direct oral misrepresentations,” “speaking half-truths” and “concealing material facts,” according to the court complaint.

Attorney Justin Vecchiarelli with Proper Defense Law said he was retained by Universal Meditech in a dispute with the company’s North Pointe landlord. There was a fire at Universal Meditech’s lab there in August 2020.

“During the litigation, the attorney-client relationship substantially broke down which resulted in my firm no longer providing legal services to Universal Meditech Inc. back in 2022, ” Vecchiarelli said in an e-mail to GV Wire on Tuesday.

The lawsuit is ongoing. Vecchiarelli would not comment further.

Calls made to North Pointe Business Park property management company were not returned before the publication of this story.

Vecchiarelli’s lawsuit seeks $25,000 in damages.

Universal Meditech’s Former Fresno Location

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

DON'T MISS

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

DON'T MISS

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

DON'T MISS

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

DON'T MISS

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

UP NEXT

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

UP NEXT

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

UP NEXT

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

UP NEXT

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

UP NEXT

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

UP NEXT

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

3 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

4 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

4 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

4 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

5 hours ago

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

5 hours ago

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

5 hours ago

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

5 hours ago

Jury Reaches Verdict on Some Counts at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

5 hours ago

How Wimbledon Is Tackling Its Hottest Opening on Record

6 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration released about 150 National Guard troops on Tuesday in the first pullback since it dispatched a milit...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

An Israeli military convoy manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, July 1, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
3 hours ago

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

Abel Joel Garcia Zarate, 39, of Biola, was arrested Sunday, June, 30, 2025, in Madera County on suspicion of starting a wildfire just hours after crews responded to a separate blaze sparked by farm equipment. (Madera County SO)
3 hours ago

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

3 hours ago

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERSStringerFile Photo
4 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

4 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

Lara Trump looks on during Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend