Abbott introduces the next generation of Influenza A and B and Strep A

New assays empower clinicians to more quickly make the right diagnostics at the point-of-care and the right treatment

Abbott park, PRNewswire announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has cleared its next-generation Influenza A & B 2 and Strep A 2 molecular assays for point-of-care testing.

The enhanced Influenza A & B 2 assay offers the fastest point-of-care molecular detection and differentiation of influenza A and B virus available in 13 minutes or less, with early call out of positive results in as little as five minutes and allows for room temperature storage of all test components, simplifying and streamlining test ordering and storage.

The Strep A two provides molecular detection of Group A Streptococcus bacterial nucleic acid, the primary cause of bacterial pharyngitis (sore throat), more than twice as rapidly as other available molecular tests – in six minutes or less, with call out of positive results as early as two minutes with no culture confirmation required for negative results.

Sharon Bracken, senior vice president, Rapid Diagnostics, Abbott said,”These Influenza A & B 2 and Strep A 2 assays combine speed with efficacy for rapid delivery of molecular results, further driving value for healthcare systems where time equals money,”
Gregory J. Berry, Ph.D., Director, Molecular Diagnostics, Northwell Health Laboratories, said, “The ability to obtain early call outs for positive test results with molecular accuracy in as little as five minutes for influenza and two minutes for Strep A is a game-changing development that allows prompt treatment decisions at the point of care,”
“Rapid testing may also help reduce improper antibiotic usage, which can occur when treatment is based exclusively on a patient’s symptoms, and contributes to antibiotic resistance.”

The new assays are available in a broad range of outpatient and inpatient settings where patients are increasingly accessing healthcare services, including emergency rooms, physician offices, walk-in clinics and urgent care centers. Such assays help healthcare providers to make fast, informed diagnosis possible, and linkage to appropriate treatment, during a single patient visit.