Share
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared a new rapid test from Abbott Laboratories, which the company says can detect the coronavirus in about 5 minutes.
Medical device maker Abbott announced the emergency clearance of its cartridge-based test in a release Friday night.
The company says that its test delivers a negative result in 13 minutes when the virus is not detected.
The U.S. has been trying for weeks to ramp up coronavirus testing after a series of problems with the initial government-designed test. The nation’s daily testing capacity has been increasing as more diagnostic makers and large laboratories have developed tests.
Abbott’s testing cartridge fits into the company’s portable ID NOW device, which is used at hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices. The company said it would launch the test next week to select health care facilities that deliver urgent care.
US Needs to Ramp up Testing
The Abbott approval follows two other rapid tests cleared by regulators in the past week. Older laboratory-developed tests can take between 4 to 8 hours to deliver results.
Health experts say the U.S. should be testing 100,000 to 150,000 people per day to track and contain the virus. There are no official nationwide testing metrics, but private and public health labs currently report testing about 80,000 to 90,000 patients per day.
RELATED TOPICS:
Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?
2 hours ago
We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador
2 hours ago
Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.
3 hours ago
Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41
14 hours ago
Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not
17 hours ago
Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft
17 hours ago
Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day
18 hours ago
Yastrzemski and Chapman Homers Help Giants Rally Past the Brewers
3 minutes ago
Categories

Yastrzemski and Chapman Homers Help Giants Rally Past the Brewers

The Latest: Francis Is Remembered as a ‘Pope Among the People’ as He Is Laid to Rest

Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?

We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador

Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

Wired Wednesday: What’s the Future of Fresno Unified and the Superintendent Position?

Zakaria Draws Parallels Between Trump’s Tariffs, Failed 1930s Economic Policies
