ABBOTT PARK, Ill., March 18, 2020
/PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use
Authorization (EUA) for the company's molecular test for novel
coronavirus (COVID-19). Abbott is immediately shipping 150,000
Abbott RealTime SARS-CoV-2 EUA tests to existing customers
in the U.S. The tests are used on the company's m2000™
RealTime System. Abbott will be working with health systems
and government authorities to deploy additional m2000
systems where they are needed.
"A global challenge like coronavirus requires the commitment and
cooperation of everyone who has the ability to help address it,"
said Miles D. White, chairman and
chief executive officer, Abbott. "I'm proud of the Abbott team
and what they've accomplished in such a short period of time, and I
want to thank the Administration and the FDA for their partnership
in making this happen."
Accelerating testing to help combat the pandemic
As a
leader in diagnostics testing, Abbott is working to do its art to
combat this global pandemic. Across the U.S., more than 175
m2000 systems are used in hospital and reference
laboratories. The systems have the ability to run high volumes of
up to 470 tests in 24 hours, helping to meet the increasing demand
for testing. Many of these instruments are used in university and
community hospitals where patients come for care, resulting in
testing that happens closer to the patient rather than sending it
to an offsite lab. Abbott is immediately distributing 150,000 tests
and will continue ramping up production to the highest levels
possible, with the goal of providing up to 1 million tests per
week. Abbott is manufacturing these tests in the U.S.
About the m2000 Molecular Platform
The Abbott
m2000 RealTime System is a molecular solution
featuring a broad menu of tests, including ones for infectious
diseases. The platform uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
technology, which amplifies a single piece (or few copies of a
piece) of DNA to quickly and accurately diagnose a patient. The
m2000 is currently used in labs around the world.
About Abbott's Diagnostics Leadership
Abbott has long
been a global leader in infectious disease testing, including the
development of the first HIV test. The company created a Global
Surveillance Program 25 years ago to monitor HIV and hepatitis
viruses and identify mutations to ensure the company's tests remain
up to date. Abbott also has a long-standing discovery program that
identifies new or unknown pathogens and develops tests to address
these new threats.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that
helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio
of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare,
with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical
devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 107,000
colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and
@AbbottGlobal.
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SOURCE Abbott