Abbott to Supply Additional 30M COVID-19 Tests to U.S. Gov’t

Abbott announced the fulfillment of the federal government’s order of 150 million BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag tests. These rapid tests were distributed through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to states, territories and targeted entities, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health and hospice agencies, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and the Indian Health Service.
 
Abbott is also in the final stages of completing its self-funded investment in U.S. manufacturing capacity and is now ready to make tens of millions of BinaxNOW tests available per month for direct purchase to organizations including schools, workplaces and pharmacies.
 
“We’ve intentionally developed the most comprehensive COVID testing portfolio and the most advanced family of rapid tests to have the greatest impact we can,” said Robert B. Ford, president and chief executive officer, Abbott. “We’re pleased to take this next step in making BinaxNOW and NAVICA available to support the opening of organizations, and get them to more places where people need them, such as schools and universities, workplaces and pharmacies.”
 
The University of Wisconsin System will be the first customer in the U.S. to secure BinaxNOW at scale, procuring 480,000 tests over six months for use at its universities and branch campuses.

“The University of Wisconsin System strives to be a national leader in combating COVID-19 and our robust testing strategy is one of our most effective means to do it,” said Tommy Thompson, president, University of Wisconsin System. “We will continue to be aggressive in acquiring and implementing tests at our universities and our partnership with Abbott is key to making this happen.”
 
At the size of a credit card and with no equipment required, Abbott’s BinaxNOW COVID-19 test—sold directly to qualified organizations for $5 per test—is already the country’s most widely available and mass-produced rapid test, providing results in 15 minutes and detecting the virus when people are most infectious and therefore at the greatest risk of spreading it to others. An at-home, virtually and digitally guided version of the test is also available at $25 per test.
 
Abbott will continue supplying HHS with a total of 30 million tests between now and March 2021. A breakdown of the initial 150 million tests shipped to states, territories and targeted entities via HHS orders can be found here.