Abbott launches new point of care Coronavirus test with results in five minutes

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new point of care test from Abbott that can provide a SARS-CoV-2 result in as little as five minutes.

Abbott's new test was approved under the FDA's Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) authority, which allows the FDA commissioner to fast-track the approval drugs and medical devices, or authorise their use outside their intended purpose.

The molecular test runs on Abbott's established ID NOW platform which can be used in a clinical setting or, thanks to it's compact size, can be used portably on the road.

The new ID NOW COVID-19 test can give healthcare professionals a positive result in 5 minutes, and a negative result in 13 minutes.

"The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus," said Robert B. Ford, president and chief operating officer, Abbott. "With rapid testing on ID NOW, healthcare providers can perform molecular point-of-care testing outside the traditional four walls of a hospital in outbreak hotspots."

Abbott hopes, with increased production rates, that they'll be able to produce 50,000 test kits per day with the first kits going out in the next week. The company is working with the US government to ensure these tests are directed at the areas that have the most need for them.

For more information visit the Abbott website. Image courtesy of Abbott.