Introducing the 5-Minute Portable Virus Test

Monday 30th of March 2020

Introducing the 5-Minute Portable Virus Test

Abbott Laboratories is launching a coronavirus test that can tell if someone is infected in as little as five minutes, and is so small and portable it can be used in almost any health-care setting. Abbott has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration “for use by authorized laboratories and patient care settings,” the company said on 27th March.

The medical devices and health care company plans to supply 50,000 tests per day starting April 1, said John Frels, vice president of research and development at Abbott Diagnostics. “This is really going to provide a tremendous opportunity for front-line caregivers, those having to diagnose a lot of infections, to close the gap with our testing,” said Frels.

The test starts with taking a swab from the nose or the back of the throat, then mixing it with a chemical solution that breaks open the virus and releases its RNA. The mixture is inserted into an ID Now system. Although it can be set up anywhere, they are targeting hospital emergency rooms, urgent-care clinics and doctors’ offices.