German privacy body probes German lab's use of BGI prenatal tests

BGI AD

14/07/2021 16:00

FRANKFURT, July 14 (Reuters) - One of Germany's regional
data protection regulators on Wednesday said it was probing lab
operator Eluthia GmbH's use of Chinese gene company BGI Group's
prenatal blood tests and services on suspicion of breaches of
data protection rules. 
    The regulator on data privacy and freedom of information in
the German state of Hesse (HBDI), where Eluthia is based, said
in a statement that a Reuters report earlier this month prompted
it to investigate the company's business model for potential
violations of the European general data protection regulation.
    The Reuters review of scientific papers and company
statements found that BGI developed prenatal tests in
collaboration with the Chinese military and is using them to
collect genetic data from millions of women for sweeping
research on the traits of populations.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2OJ350    
    Eluthia GmbH said on Monday it would suspend the use of
BGI's prenatal blood test for pregnant women while it looks into
potential measures to protect its customers' data
privacy. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nS8N2NS06B
    Eluthia, which offers diagnostic blood tests of possible
genetic abnormalities in foetuses in Germany, said at the time
that BGI's lab in Hong Kong, on which it relies for a
wide-ranging prenatal diagnostic test, had the accreditation and
certificates required by European data protection rules.
    The company was not immediately available for comment.     

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SPECIAL REPORT-China's gene giant harvests data from millions of
women     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2OJ350
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 (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
 ((ludwig.burger@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 220133634; Reuters
Messaging: ludwig.burger.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))