Posted on 05/13/2020 10:22:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
An Abbott (ABT -1.6%) spokesperson says the sensitivity (correctly identifying true positives) of its rapid molecular test for detecting the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in nasal specimens is 99.98%, in other words, a false negative rate of 0.02%. The test, OK'd for emergency use by the FDA in March, is performed on its ID Now system and can generate a positive result in as little as five minutes.
The company responded after reports circulated that an NYU study showed sensitivity of only 51%, explaining that investigators did not use the test as intended.
Principal competitors Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY +0.3%) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO +0.6%) are up on the news.
(Excerpt) Read more at seekingalpha.com ...
The analysis, which has yet to be confirmed, found that Abbott’s ID NOW missed at least one-third of positive cases detected with a rival test and much as 48% when using the currently recommended dry nasal swabs, according to the report posted on BioRxiv, a server where researchers post early work before it has been reviewed by other scientists.
See the report here:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.11.089896v1?rss=1
TITLE:
Performance of the rapid Nucleic Acid Amplification by Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 in nasopharyngeal swabs transported in viral media and dry nasal swabs, in a New York City academic institution
However, BioRvix always posts this caveat on their website:
bioRxiv is receiving many new papers on coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. A reminder: these are preliminary reports that have not been peer-reviewed. They should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or be reported in news media as established information.
The only solution is to find test kits made by a company President Trump has not praised.
Sounds like a marketing ploy to resurrect sales of the chicom tests containing the pre-virus loaded nasal swabs.
yup. was given an early heads up on this specific test from my lab contacts. i can support this report. hope Abbott comes clean and fixes it, for all our sakes.
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