In the context of the fight against the new deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), which has spread around the world and has caused the death of 27.365 people since its emergence in Wuhan, China, efforts to increase the quality and speed of infection diagnostic kits continue. . Finally, Abbott Laboratories developed a diagnostic kit that reported whether the patient was infected or not within 5 minutes of applying it to the patient. Mass production of the new diagnostic kit, which is said to be used in all healthcare environments due to its smallness and portability, is expected to begin early next month. Abbott has announced that it will supply 50,000 diagnostic kits per day, starting April 1. The test targets parts of the coronavirus genome The molecular test targets parts of the coronavirus genome. Genome fragments can be detected within five minutes if the virus is present at high levels. It is stated that the duration of a comprehensive research required to definitively reject the existence of the infection can be up to 13 minutes. The U.S. has a hard time supplying coronavirus diagnostic tests. Especially in states such as New York, California, Washington, there is a danger of filling the hospital capacities due to coronavirus outbreak, in the first place, the tests were limited to the high risk group. Adding to the problem with the tests conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US institutions had to quickly return to companies for test kits. John Frels, the official of the research and development department of Abbott Diagnostics, states that the new test will be very useful, especially for caregivers who are responsible for detecting infectious diseases. The new technology is built on Abbott’s ID Now platform. This test is especially used in the diagnosis of influenza, strepcoccal sore throat and respiratory syncytial virus. The test is done by taking a sample from the nose or throat. This sample is mixed with a chemical solution so that the virus opens and releases its RNA. This mixture is then placed inside the ID Now system, and only about 3 kilograms of this ID Now device detects selected sequences of the coronavirus genome. The system does not care about other viruses being included in the mixture. Working with customers and Trump management, Abbott is preparing to supply the new test to emergency services, emergency health clinics, and doctor’s offices. Last week, Abbott’s m2000 RealTime system received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although this test can be used for diagnosis, it takes longer to give results.
