Replies to post #229199 on Biotech Values

[vinmantoo]

US testing capacity for COVID-19 boosted by Roche test and (belated) government actions:

Dew,

Yesterday I read an article about a bottleneck that is hindering our ability to ramp up testing. It looks like the primers needed for RT-qPCR are finally getting sorted out, and that more research labs at hospitals are gearing up to perform the PCR assays. However, the first step after obtain swabs of patients is to extract the viral RNA. People use RNA extract kits and major supplier is Qiagen. There don't seem to be enough to go around so hospital labs are asking colleagues in departments or outside to send them RNA extractions kits they have in their labs, even though they are not officially certified for medical uses. That is irrelevant in my book as they are used for precise research experiments in research, but it points out how difficult ramping up is when you haven't planned to do it.

[DewDiligence]

ABT’s COVID-19 test approved by FDA:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/abbott-receives-fda-emergency-authorization-220000633.html

As a leader in diagnostics testing, Abbott is working to do its part 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.