Abbott says new data shows rapid COVID-19 test used at White House is highly accurate

Abbott Laboratories on Wednesday released early data from a study on the accuracy of its ID NOW COVID-19 test, which is used in the White House, that could help alleviate concerns the diagnostic frequently fails to detect the virus.

Interim data from Abbott’s 1,003-participant study shows that its test, which can deliver results in under 15 minutes, correctly identified positive COVID-19 cases 95% of the time when used within seven days of symptom onset.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the test in March, but said in May that early data suggested it could sometimes fail to detect the virus in sick patients. Abbott said it would conduct multiple studies of the test in a variety of healthcare settings.

U.S. President Donald Trump, his wife Melania and several members of the White House staff have contracted COVID-19, raising questions about whether Abbott’s test was reliable enough to be used as the White House’s daily screening tool.

A study conducted by Cleveland Clinic in April showed the test detected the virus in around 85% of cases, lower than many other COVID-19 tests. Other studies, including one by New York University, raised similar concerns.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-abbott-testing/abbott-says-fast-covid-19-test-correctly-identifies-positive-cases-95-of-the-time-idUSKBN26S1YB

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