BD’s Combo COVID-19, Flu Rapid Antigen Test Earns EUA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for BD’s new, rapid antigen test that can detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B in one test.
 
The BD Veritor System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B assay takes about 15 minutes to run and distinguishes between SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B, by providing definitive positive or negative individual digital display readouts for all three.
 
“Given that symptoms for COVID-19 and the flu are very similar, having the ability to run a rapid combination test to distinguish between these viral infections may help save time and resources,” Dave Hickey, president of Life Sciences for BD said in a press release. “BD will continue to offer both individual tests for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A+B, as well as the new combination tests, to give health care providers the option to run the test that is most appropriate for their patients.”
 
BD aims to launch the new test this summer for the 2021-2022 flu season. It’s intended for individuals suspected of having COVID-19, influenza A, or influenza B within six days of symptom onset.
 
There are over 70,000 active BD Veritor Systems in use at testing locations in all U.S. states. The system is slightly larger than a cell phone, has one-button functionality, offers workflow flexibility, and allows ease-of-use to make it an ideal solution for settings without laboratory personnel. It also offers customers real-time reporting capabilities through the optional BD Synapsys Informatics Solution, providing them with the ability to easily report data for disease monitoring and surveillance purposes.