The Chinese government will stop using anal swabs on American diplomats, after some members of US President Joe Biden's administration complained about the method of COVID-19 testing.
As reported by VICE, some areas of China are using anal swabs to test people entering the region, who have arrived from other parts of the country or are travelling from overseas and in quarantine.
Officials from Washington told VICE members were questioning the tests, as the practice was described as "undignified", according to the US State Department.
"The State Department never agreed to this kind of testing and protested directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when we learned that some staff were subject to it," a spokesperson said.
They went on to share that Beijing confirmed the testing was an "error" and diplomats were supposed to be excused from the practice, which is compulsory in some regions.
It is unknown how many of those from Washington, and their families have experienced the test.
However, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has denied all knowledge his government asked the American's to undertake the test.
According to China's National Health Commission, coronavirus can be detected easier from an anal sample, in comparison to the standard nasal or throat tests. They went on to share that the swabs are not suitable for mass testing as they are time consuming and unpopular with the public.
To collect the sample, a cotton swab is inserted three to five centimeters into the rectum.
The State Department told VICE World News it is "committed to preserving the dignity of American diplomats and their families".
COVID-19 is largely contained in China, with low numbers recorded daily in the country with a population of 1.4billion.
