The California Dental Association (CDA) is warning dentists about COVID-19 rapid testing scams, often distributed via email.
"Advertisements and emails that promote rapid and reliable COVID-19 tests are landing more frequently in dentists' inboxes as the pandemic stretches on," the association noted in a statement released on December 8.
The CDA is urging dentists to ignore these emails and other methods to sell such products.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet granted emergency use authorization to any COVID-19 rapid test for asymptomatic individuals -- the type of COVID-19 test that dentists may eventually be able to administer to patients and staff in the dental setting," according to the association.
Current California law prevents dentists from acquiring lab licensure to perform and process rapid COVID-19 tests in the dental office, the CDA noted. It is working with the governor's office, the state Legislature, and the California Department of Public Health to allow dentists to obtain this licensure once tests are FDA-approved and on the market.
