Abbott’s Rapid Covid-19 Test to Create 1200 Jobs in Maine

The FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Abbott’s BinaxNOW rapid antigen test for detection of COVID-19 infection. The $5 test is highly portable, affordable and provides results in 15 minutes. It uses proven Abbott lateral flow technology, making it a reliable and familiar format for frequent mass testing by healthcare providers.

Abbott will ship tens of millions of tests in September, ramping to 50 million tests a month at the beginning of October. The company has invested hundreds of millions of dollars since April in two new U.S. facilities to manufacture BinaxNOW at massive scale. According to the Boston Globe, the company will create 300 permanent jobs and 900 temporary positions at a new manufacturing plant in Westbrook, Maine, near Portland.

Abbott will also launch a complementary mobile app for iPhone and Android devices named NAVICA. This first-of-its-kind app, available at no charge, will allow people who test negative to display a temporary digital health pass that is renewed each time a person is tested through their healthcare provider together with the date of the test result. Organizations will be able to view and verify the information on a mobile device to facilitate entry into facilities.

BinaxNOW can be used as a first line of defense to identify people who are currently infected and who should isolate themselves to help prevent the spread of the disease. It is intended for the qualitative detection of nucleocapsid protein antigen from SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs from individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first seven days of symptom onset. (Source: Abbott Laboratories Website, 26 August, 2020 and The Boston Globe, 28 August, 2020)