A rapid coronavirus test made by Abbott Laboratories has been found to miss nearly half of all positive infections in certain instances, according to a report by The Hill.
The study, which is non-peer reviewed and in pre-publication, found Abbott’s ID NOW tests, which delivers results in less than 15 minutes, missed more than 48 percent of positive cases with samples collected with dry nasal swabs.
A third of samples from Abbott’s test collected from a swab that goes deeper into the nose were missed, NYU’s analysis found. Those same samples received a positive reading by a rival test from Cepheid.
Abbott refuted the study.
“The NYU study results are not consistent with other studies … We have many questions for the study authors,” spokesman Scott Stoffel said in a statement to The Post.
Stoffel cited a recent study out of Washingston state where the Abbott test properly registered 91 percent of positive cases in a sample of 1000 subjects.
The White House uses the Abbott test on people who may come into close contact with President Trump, the report said.
