US, China at loggerheads over heparin

US and Chinese officials gave opposing views over where contaminated supplies of heparin, a blood thinner, originated, the Wall Street Journal reported. The US Food and Drug Administration said contaminated heparin was traced to 12 companies in China, and that it was linked to 81 deaths in 11 countries. However, Chinese officials suggested that the problem originated in the US, and have scheduled a visit to a New Jersey heparin plant this week. Differences between the tests used by the Chinese and American officials could be a reason for the opposing conclusions, the Journal said, citing an FDA official.