All around the globe, hospitals and healthcare networks need more tests that perform quickly for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Abbott for the fastest available point of care molecular test to detect COVID-19. The new test (Abbott ID NOW COVID-19) can deliver results in minutes; it takes about five minutes for a positive result and about 13 minutes for a negative result. The test is also more flexible than current tests, meaning that it can be administered in a doctor’s office or urgent care clinics (not just hospitals).
The Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 tests run on the Abbott ID NOW™ platform, which is basically a box about the size of a toaster that can be placed in an array of locations. Due to the small size of the device, it provides a portable and better-utilized testing option for non-traditional testing sites. Abbott is ramping up production so that they can deliver 50,000 tests per day as early as next week.
Molecular point-of-care testing provides fast results in a wider variety of settings. It works by identifying a small section of the genome and then amplifying it until there is enough to determine a result. This process is a great benefit to healthcare workers and patients because it greatly reduces the time it takes to get COVID-19 results. The current tests take several days to return results.
According to Chris Scoggins, senior vice president of Rapid Diagnostics at Abbott, "Through the incredible work of teams across Abbott, we expect to deliver 50,000 COVID-19 tests per day to healthcare professionals on the front lines, where testing capabilities are needed most. Portable molecular testing expands the country's capacity to get people answers faster."
When it’s not being used for detecting COVID-19, the ID NOW system is used to perform molecular testing for Influenza A&B, Strep A, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).