Antigen tests are a relatively new type of test for COVID-19 that
work by scanning for proteins that can be found on or inside a
virus.
The FDA has touted the tests as an important tool for combating the
pandemic because they can be produced quickly, at relatively low
costs, and test patients in a variety of settings.
The regulator approved in May the first COVID-19 antibody test,
which is made by Quidel Corp.
Becton Dickinson's test can be used on its existing BD Veritor
System platform, which is employed in about 25,000 healthcare
facilities across the United States.
The platform is slightly larger than a cellphone and does not need
to be operated by specialized laboratory scientists, the company
said. Becton Dickinson said it would be able to produce 2 million
tests a week by the end of September.
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Becton Dickinson has unveiled a variety of other types of tests for COVID-19
this year, and has said it is working to ramp up testing capacity in
anticipation of a second wave of the virus.
"This will be a game changer for frontline healthcare workers and their patients
to be able to access a quick diagnostic test for COVID-19, offering results in
real time at convenient locations like retail pharmacies, urgent care centers,
and doctors' offices," said Dave Hickey, president of Becton Dickinson's
integrated diagnostic solutions business.
(Reporting by Carl O'Donnell; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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