Bioeksen R&D Technologies
3Editor's Note: We will be regularly updating the list of EUA-approved tests contained in this article as more tests get FDA approval
One major challenge in the US response to the novel coronavirus pandemic has been the availability of test kits and the reagents required to use those kits. Public health authorities say accurate and widespread testing is critical in identifying COVID-19 hotspots and how it is spreading, as well as ensuring infected patients are treated quickly.
But, as recently as last week, the US had only 23 test kits per million people, according to Dr. Paul Biddinger, MD, FACEP, of Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), speaking in a webinar broadcast Mar. 13. “It’s hard to say we have a handle on the situation when we just can’t test,” said Biddinger, chief of MGH’s Division of Emergency Preparedness and director of the hospital’s Center for Disaster Medicine.
However, authorities are moving quickly to close that gap and ramp up testing capacity.
On Mar. 16, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced they are eliminating regulatory hurdles around the development and release of diagnostic tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
The move by the FDA involves three main elements:
- Allows states to take responsibility for diagnostic tests developed and used by labs in their states without having to go through the FDA
- Expands the Feb. 29 guidance originally released for COVID-19 diagnostic testing to include commercially developed tests
- Provides recommendations to manufacturers wanting to develop serological tests for COVID-19
Since the end of January, the FDA has being working with more than 100 diagnostic test developers. The regulator has helped more than 80 of those developers with tests they plan to bring through the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) process. As the COVID-19 situation is changing day by day, the FDA is asking that labs with questions about the EUA process, getting key supplies, or FDA policies call their toll-free line, 1-888-INFO-FDA.
At the moment, it’s not known how many test kits are now available as “this number fluctuates daily as more and more test developers get their tests in the field and start testing patients,” the FDA said in their Monday statement. “At this time, the FDA is focused on making sure tests are distributed and that test developers and labs have the materials they need to run the tests.”
