There’s a new COVID-19 test from healthcare technology inventor Abbott that seems to be the quickest yet in terms of providing results, and that can do so on the spot directly at point-of-care, without needing a round trip to a lab. 

This analysis for the novel coronavirus creating the current global pandemic has obtained emergency allowance for usage by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

It will start production the following week, with an output of 50,000 per day.

How the Abbott NOW Works 

The new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test utilises the Abbott ID NOW diagnostics program, which is a lab-in-a-box that is about the size of a small kitchen machine. 

Its size and that it can provide either a positive outcome in just five minutes or a negative one in under 15 indicates that it can be a beneficial way to increase coronavirus testing beyond its immediate availability to more areas including dispensaries and doctor’s offices, and reduce the wait time for both, getting tested and obtaining a diagnosis.

Unlike the accelerated tests that have been utilised in different countries, and that got a new type of permission under an FDA guideline that doesn’t verify the precision of the results, this prompt testing solution utilises the molecular examination method, which operates with saliva and mucus specimens swabbed from a patient. 

This indicates that it works by identifying a part of the virus’s RNA in a patient, which implies it’s much safer at discovering the actual appearance of the virus through infection. 

In contrast, different tests that examine the blood for antibodies that are utilised in point-of-care settings can only identify antibodies, which may be existing in recovered patients who don’t actively have the virus.

Different tests that examine blood for antibodies | iTMunch

The Availability of The Test 

The good news for the availability of this test is that it is “publicly available” across doctor’s offices, critical care clinics, emergency rooms and additional medical facilities.

Overall, Abbott now states that it considers it will create 5 million tests in April, divided between these novel rapid tests and the lab tests that it got emergency use permission for by the FDA on March 18.

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