As each state develops plans to reopen its economies, testing is in the spotlight.
Abbott Laboratories' ID Now, a quick-result diagnostic test which has reportedly been used in the White House, came under scrutiny earlier this month for the accuracy of its testing, specifically the rate of false negatives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would work with Abbott to investigate.
On Wednesday, the company released interim results. Phil Ginsburg, Abbott's Head of Infectious Disease, told Cheddar, "We found remarkable results."
Interim results revealed that, when used as intended, test sensitivity was around 94 percent, which means that 94 percent of the time the test will correctly identify those patients who have the virus. As for patients who do not have COVID-19, 99 percent of the time the test reportedly identifies them correctly.
"The test works very well where it is meant to be, and the setting that we use it in is in the earliest stages of the disease when the patient is infected and likely to spread the disease," said Ginsburg. If the tests are able to produce such quick results, the early-stage patients are able to be taken care of quickly and the ability to slow the spread of the virus to other people can be greatly increased.
"I would like to put this in perspective," Ginsburg said. "As a physician, I remain so confident in the performance of ID Now. When it's used in the way that its meant to be used, it's working as intended."
Testing has greatly increased in the United States from the beginning of the pandemic. The CDC says that over 15 million tests have been performed thus far, which will be key for reopening, but people still need to do their part in keeping each other safe.
"I think its negligent of people who take the attitude of its all passed us," Ginsburg warned. "What's dangerous is it could come back — we don't know yet."
