The self-test features a minimally invasive nasal swab and delivers results in as early as 15 minutes with no instrumentation, using proven Abbott lateral flow technology
Abbott has launched Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in adults and children with or without symptoms. Self-test kits are offered in packages of one, four, 10 and 20 tests. With results in just 15 minutes, the Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test enables people who test positive to immediately isolate so that they do not infect others, rather than waiting days for results.
People can take the test by using a simple nasal swab (not the deep nasopharyngeal swab) while following the instructions for use steps on the pack. For children younger than 14 years, an adult caretaker should help collect the nasal samples and conduct the test procedures. The kit contains all the materials required including nasal swabs, test devices and reagent ampules. No additional instrumentation is required to conduct the test.
Abbott will deliver millions of Panbio COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests available for self-use to ease the burden on healthcare systems in urban and rural India. The test is to be used along with Abbott’s NAVICA mobile app, available in the Google Play and Apple app store. The app offers a simple and streamlined process of self-registration, automatic reading of results and easy reporting as per ICMR guidelines. Panbio Self-Tests will be available via retail pharmacies and through e-commerce platforms, as well as through organisations and institutions.
Abbott offers the Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device for professional use. This version of the test – which is scientifically identical to the self-test– can be administered by health professionals on adults and children, with or without symptoms. Like the Panbio Self-Test, the professional test offers a minimally invasive nasal swab option for the assisted, supervised sample collection, which can help people who are not comfortable with the deep nasopharyngeal swab. It delivers results in 15 minutes.
The Panbio professional test demonstrated 95.7 per cent sensitivity and 97.6 per cent specificity when benchmarked against RT-PCR tests, indicating high reliability. Panbio has CE Mark for asymptomatic use and supervised nasal swab collection and is on the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing.
Also available is Abbott’s ID NOW system, a molecular point-of-care test the size of a toaster that’s designed to deliver results in less than 15 minutes. ID NOW is being widely being used at airports, emergency departments, diagnostics laboratories and in a wide variety of other point-of-care settings.
