It will provide more understanding of virus including how long antibodies stay in body and if they provide immunity. This type of knowledge could help support development of treatments and vaccines
Abbott announced that it has received CE Mark to the IVD Directive (98/79/EC) for its laboratory-based serology blood test for the detection of the antibody, IgG, that identifies if a person has had the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Antibody testing is an important next step to tell if someone has been previously infected. It will provide more understanding of the virus including how long antibodies stay in the body and if they provide immunity. This type of knowledge could help support the development of treatments and vaccines.
“Abbott has been singularly focussed on bringing COVID-19 tests to market as quickly as possible to help address this pandemic,” said Narendra Varde, General Manager and Country Head, Abbott Diagnostics, India. “We are proud to be providing our antibody tests in the coming weeks as they will help understand who has had the virus, leading to greater confidence as we get to living life.”
While molecular testing detects whether someone has the virus, antibody tests determine if someone was infected. Abbott’s SARS-CoV-2 IgG test identifies the IgG antibody, which is a protein that the body produces in the late stages of infection and may remain up to months and possibly years after a person has recovered. The test demonstrated specificity and sensitivity to detect IgG antibodies of greater than 99 per cent 14 days or more after symptoms started.
Abbott’s IgG antibody test will initially be available on its ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR laboratory instruments.*
Abbott is significantly scaling up its European manufacturing for antibody testing and will expand testing to its Alinity i system. Abbott will also be expanding its laboratory antibody testing to the detection of the antibody, IgM, in the near future.
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* All ARCHITECT analysers are Class 1 laser products.