Abbott launches antibody test for coronavirus, plans to deliver 20 million tests by June

[turbinetree]

Source: Reuters

HEALTH APRIL 15, 2020 / 9:57 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

(Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories Inc on Wednesday launched a coronavirus blood test that could show whether a person has been infected and plans to ramp up manufacturing to produce 20 million tests in June.

The test helps identify disease-fighting antibodies in people who have been infected but may have had mild symptoms or none at all, making it different from the current diagnostic tests that require nasal swabs to confirm active infection.

Abbott has previously won U.S. authorization for two coronavirus testing kits: an automated test that can be used in labs and a test that can deliver results within minutes and be used in physicians’ offices, clinics and hospitals.

Reporting by Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-abbott/abbott-launches-antibody-test-for-coronavirus-plans-to-deliver-20-million-tests-by-june-idUSKCN21X21E

[Botany]

2. By June?

This should have been done months ago?

The WHO offered Trump perfectly good C-19 test kits in late January/early February.

[RockRaven]

4. The WHO test tested for the virus. This test will test for an immune response against the virus.

Basically it will tell if you've been exposed in the past, rather than testing for an active infection.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. Were the WHO tests in January for active viral cases or anti-body tests?

[Botany]

9. Active viral cases

What scares me about the anti-body tests is that having C-19 might not give you
long term immunity but limited immunity and "the beast" will keep spreading.

[RockRaven]

3. We need at least half a billion, just for the US.

[That assumes a positive antibody test equates to immunity and resistance to shedding virus after re-exposure going forward; if it doesn't correlate with immunity, then never mind]

Without a vaccine, we need to test EVERYONE. Literally everyone. That's the safest way to "re-open" the economy without having to endure re-shutdowns. Everyone with immunity can go back to work, and go back to restaurants and movie theaters and traveling for business, etc. And everyone without immunity on the first test will need to be re-tested at a future date(s).

[Steelrolled]

15. I think there is no way we can test everyone

But we need enough that we can very quickly do extensive testing in areas that show a rise in cases, to help identify where it came from and where it is going, and react. It would be great if we could get a high acceptance of tracking apps on smart phones.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. The U.S. could stockpile a bunch to be distributed to any emerging hot spots, ...

... but then Kushner will claim that they are only for the Federal government, not for distribution to the states. The individual states would have to each stock its own emergency cache. Unless they form regional unions, confederacies of health care.

[Steelrolled]

17. I think we'll work it out.

I think we are getting away from full-on panic mode.

[Sancho]

6. Wasn't Abbott the same company that promised the 45 minute machine test....

...that has never actually happened - except everyone says the machines don't work!?!?!

I'll believe it when I see it.

[jpak]

12. It produced a 5 minute test

and they are gearing up to make tens of thousands of instruments and kits a week.

[BootinUp]

14. Abbott is one the top dogs in medical

I remember when they sent an auditor to a small plastics plant in Charlotte NC, early to mid 90’s because the specialty compound was for a medical device. They gigged us for no pest control. Easily remedied.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

7. Any word on the accuracy of this test?

[iluvtennis]

8. My preference would be for Abbott to get the CV-19 15 minute test analysis machine in mass

production. We need to know who is infected/who isn't to start the isolation and recovery process. When we know who's not infected, those folks can start returning to work/school/volunteering/etc. After the folks isolated re-test and are clear, they can them go back to work/school.

After the testing process is completed to high enough percentage (...as determined by scientist/doctors...), then Abbott can start working on antibody test.

[Thekaspervote]

10. It's a good start, yes wish it was sooner

[Maxheader]

11. So what was all this about?

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/health/coronavirus-antibody-tests-scientists/index.html

[BootinUp]

13. Great news. Nt