Police have sent the metal packaging of a sprite drink to a specialist laboratory for tests in a bid to unravel the mystery of how a man was hospitalized with mercury poisoning, the Beijing News reported.

Tianjin-based China Packaging Research & Test Center (CPRTC) will analyze the inner coating, hermeticity and exterior appearance of three metal containers, one of which Ma Sai consumed on November 7, the other two are from the same batch of Coco Cola products.

Police officers, Ma’s family and representatives from the beverage magnate attended the test.

The newspaper cited a relative of Ma saying the test results will be vital evidence on whether or not the mercury was "injected into the container," CPRTC said its report, unavailable yet, would only go to its client, the police bureau of Xicheng District in Beijing.

In a separate case under investigation, a 13-year-old Beijing student was hospitalized for mercury poisoning after drinking Sprite on January 17.

(chinadaily.com.cn February 6, 2010)