Saturday, March 28, 2020

Looks Great

Abbott Labs has a table top 5 minute COVID-19 test system. They note:

Abbott has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the fastest available molecular point-of-care test for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), delivering positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. What makes this test so different is where it can be used: outside the four walls of a traditional hospital such as in the physicians' office or urgent care clinics. The new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test runs on Abbott's ID NOWTM platform—a lightweight box (6.6 pounds and the size of a small toaster) that can sit in a variety of locations. Because of its small size, it can be used in more non-traditional places where people can have their results in a matter of minutes, bringing an alternate testing technology to combat the novel coronavirus.

If this does work it, and it is a more universal testing platform, then this is a true game changer. It opens the field up for  real time universal tests as is needed. It MUST BE MANDATORY for any entering the country! In fact even before boarding a flight to the US or at Border crossings.