Core Viewpoint - Zhang Hezi, once known as the "Nucleic Acid King," is now embroiled in legal disputes with health authorities over unpaid testing fees, highlighting the financial struggles faced by third-party medical testing companies in the post-pandemic landscape [1][11]. Group 1: Legal Disputes and Financial Challenges - Shenzhen Nucleic Acid Laboratory, under Zhang Hezi, has initiated lawsuits against various health departments for unpaid nucleic acid testing fees, indicating a significant issue with accounts receivable in the industry [1][2]. - The lawsuits primarily target health departments in smaller cities, revealing the complex payment issues within the third-party medical testing sector [1][2]. - A health department representative confirmed that the disputes are related to nucleic acid testing fees, which have been settled for relatively small amounts [1][2]. Group 2: Company Background and Growth - Zhang Hezi founded Shenzhen Nucleic Gene Technology Co., which controls Shenzhen Nucleic Acid Laboratory, and has been a major player in nucleic acid testing during the COVID-19 pandemic [1][5]. - The laboratory has been involved in testing across numerous cities, including Wuhan and Shenzhen, and claims to have conducted over 700 million tests during the pandemic [2][7]. - The rapid expansion of the laboratory was facilitated by a franchise model, attracting over 2,300 franchisees, and generating significant revenue during the peak of the pandemic [8]. Group 3: Regulatory Issues and Penalties - The laboratory has faced multiple penalties for issues such as falsifying test results and improper management of staff, indicating ongoing regulatory scrutiny [3][4]. - Specific incidents, such as the misreporting of test results in Lanzhou, have brought negative attention to the laboratory and its operations [3][4]. Group 4: Future Prospects and Business Direction - Following the decline in business post-pandemic, Zhang Hezi's companies are reportedly facing financial difficulties, with some being restricted from high consumption due to legal disputes [11]. - The company has attempted to diversify into real estate and pre-prepared food sectors, but the ongoing legal issues continue to overshadow its reputation [11]. - Despite ambitions for further expansion and IPO plans, the company has yet to achieve successful public listing due to stringent regulatory reviews [11].