January 12, 2021 – Abbott (Abbott Park, IL) 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.
The company is also in the final stages of completing its self-funded investment in U.S. manufacturing capacity and says it is now ready to make tens of millions of BinaxNOW tests available per month for direct purchase to organizations including schools, workplaces and pharmacies.
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.
The BinaxNOW test can be paired with the no-charge NAVICA app, which was developed by Abbott to allow people who test negative to display that result through a temporary digital health certificate. People who test negative on BinaxNOW can receive a QR code and organizations can scan and verify the information to manage entry into facilities that accept NAVICA.