⚠️HUGE! Abbott Laboratories is unveiling a #COVID19 test that can tell if someone is infected in as little as 5 minutes, and is so small and portable it can be used in almost any health-care setting. plans to supply 50,000 tests a day starting April 1. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
2) “The molecular test looks for fragments of the coronavirus genome, which can be detected in as little as five minutes when it’s present at high levels. A thorough search to definitively rule out an infection can take up to 13 minutes” #COVID19
3) “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,” Frels said. “A clinic will be able to turn that result around quickly, while the patient is waiting.” #COVID19
4) 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.. identify and amplify select sequences of #COVID19 genome and ignore contamination from other viruses.
5) The equipment can be set up almost anywhere, but the company is working to ensure the first cartridges used to perform the tests are sent to where they are most needed. They are targeting hospital emergency rooms, urgent-care clinics and doctors’ offices. #COVID19
6) Other companies are also rolling out faster testing systems. Henry Schein Inc. said its point-of-care antibody test, which looks for evidence that a person’s immune system has already fought off the infection, was available. #COVID19
7) The (Henry Schein) blood test can be given at the point of care and delivers results in about 15 minutes, though it can’t be used to definitively diagnose a current infection. #COVID19
8) 📌BOTTOMLINE: These two systems together will be COMPLETE GAME CHANGERS. The Abbot Lab 🧪 test will give fast point of care immediately, and hopefully more accurately than old test. The Schein serology test will know long term past infection ➡️ if you have #COVID19 immunity!!!
