Hong Kong health authorities are investigating the suspected illegal importation of blood samples from mainland China for fetal gender testing, involving two laboratories. The case came to light after media inquiries about social media promotions for blood draws targeting pregnant mainland women.
Hong Kong's Department of Health announced on Wednesday that it is investigating a case of suspected illegal importation of blood samples from mainland China for fetal gender testing. The department said it had notified mainland authorities and referred the two implicated laboratories—NovaGene Diagnostic Laboratory Limited and Zentrogene Bioscience Laboratory Limited—to the Medical Laboratory Technologists Board for appropriate actions against the registered medical laboratory technologists involved.
The case surfaced after the department received media inquiries regarding social media promotions arranging blood draws for pregnant women from the mainland. “[The department] referred relevant information regarding the two laboratories in question to the Medical Laboratory Technologists Board for appropriate actions against the registered medical laboratory technologists concerned,” it said.
The board is a statutory body responsible for maintaining a register of medical lab technologists. Under the law, lab technologists cannot perform tests for medical diagnosis or treatment without a referral from a registered medical practitioner or other specified healthcare professional.
The department highlighted that such activities breach ordinances including the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance and the Medical Clinics Ordinance. While no arrests have been made, authorities have alerted the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department to probe potential illegal importation. This incident underscores regulatory challenges in cross-border medical services, particularly in the sensitive area of fetal gender testing, which is strictly restricted on the mainland.