Henry Schein is working to distribute a rapid blood test manufactured by SD Biosensor to help medical professionals diagnose the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Standard Q COVID-19 IgM/IgG rapid test is an immunochromatography test that can identify COVID0-19 antibodies from blood drawn with a pinprick. The test provides results within 15 minutes and can be administered at the point of care.
Because of its detection of antibodies, the test can identify people with past infection and those in the mid-to-late stages of the disease. Henry Schein cautioned that physicians should also consider follow-up molecular tests to confirm or rule out COVID-19.
The tests are being made available under emergency guidance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Several hundred thousand tests are expected to be available by March 30, with even more tests available in April, according to the company.
