Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

BDX launches 15-min COVID-19-antibody test:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bd-biomedomics-announce-launch-of-rapid-serology-test-to-detect-exposure-to-covid-19-301032760.html

The test is completed in four, simple steps. First, blood is collected through normal blood collection devices such as the BD Microtainer Contact-Activated Lancet. A few drops of blood are then transferred to the test cartridge, followed by two to three drops of a buffer. The results can be read in 15 minutes, similar to how over-the-counter pregnancy tests show multiple lines for positive results and a single line for negative results.

As always with screening diagnostics, the usefulness of the test in a particular population being tested depends on the test’s sensitivity and specificity, which haven’t been reported, as far as I know.

Accurate COVID-19-antibody testing is needed to determine: who is eligible to be a donor of convalescent plasma (#msg-154546607); and which healthcare workers can safely be exposed to infectious patients.