Abbott Labs designed a COVID-19 antigen test that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who issued Emergency Use Authorization for the test. It is the most affordable rapid test at $5 and does not require machinery.
The BinaxNOW test is a simple swab test that produces results within 15 minutes. The company also developed a complimentary free app, NAVICA, to display a digital heath pass when people test negative for coronavirus.
Robert B. Ford, CEO and President of Abbott shared that they 'intentionally designed the BinaxNOW test and NAVICA app so we could offer a comprehensive testing solution to help Americans feel more confident about their health and lives.' The app and rapid test can hopefully help everyone have a bit more daily normalcy, he shared.
According to the COVID Tracking Project, there had only been 75 million tests conducted within the past six months. Epidemiologist Michael Mina from Harvard said regarding Abbott's new test, 'This is the type of test that we've been waiting for, but may not be the test.'
Rapid Testing
Although the test is very affordable, it does not mean that everyone will have access to the test. The FDA's authorization only grants the test for people with symptoms of coronavirus for at least seven days.
However, Mina and Kristian Anderson from Scripps Research expressed that the test seems to be designed for everyone at any time, especially with the complimentary app. Mina also reiterated that asymptomatic and presymptomatic remain highly contagious, yet technically they aren't allowed to take the test.
Anderson said, 'Abbott didn't just have symptomatic diagnostics in mind here, but also screening of asymptomatic people.' Also, asymptomatic and presymptomatic people have a higher chance of having false-positive results.
John Hackett, one of Abbott's lead scientists, shared that the test was initially built around the concept of helping society go back to normal in the safest way possible. This meant going back to the workplace or on campus without being exposed to symptomatic people. The company wants to have the tests distributed as broadly as possible, shared Hackett
Dr. Charles Chiu from the University of California said that the rapid tests will help the overwhelmed healthcare workers and 'support overburdened laboratories, accelerate turnaround times, and greatly expand access to people who need it.'
Producing Millions of Tests
There are several challenges in making the test widely available, shared Hackett, such as how people will store them. The company designed the test to be as simple as possible by making it a nasal swab test.
Since they can only be used to test people with symptoms, most likely the tests would be conducted in facilities such as hospitals, schools, and workplaces. Facilities with a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate would also be allowed to use the tests.
Soon after Abbott's announcement of their product, the Trump administration announced that they would be purchasing 150 million tests from the company. Abbott will start mass-producing the test by October and initially produce 50 million tests.
Check out more news and information on COVID-19 Tests on Science Times.
