China and the United States are in close cooperation in the investigation into a suspect problematic ingredient of heparin products, but no results are available yet, said a Chinese official on Sunday.

Wu Zhen, vice head of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), made this remark while responding to an AP reporter at a press conference during the annual full session of China's top legislature.

It is reported that heparin blood-thinner products, with a suspiciously contaminated ingredient from a supplier in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, have caused serious reactions and deaths in the United States.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent work staff here for inspection, receiving active support from China, Wu said.

Both sides have spot-checked the samples and scientists from the two sides have conducted lab test, but no precise conclusion is available yet, he said, adding the investigation is still going on.

He promised to inform the public of the conclusion as soon as the investigation results come out.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2008)