HOUSTON (AP) – A Houston medical diagnostic lab is now capable of testing thousands of blood samples for coronavirus antibodies.
SynerGene Laboratories, a facility owned by Principle Health Systems, is offering a COVID-19 test developed by pharmaceuticals giant, Abbott Laboratories.
It tests for antibodies for the novel coronavirus and can can detect whether a person has been exposed.
Principle CEO James Dieter said the test is different from others because it’s been approved the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA has so far authorized only four tests.
Dozens of other tests are being marketed nationwide without FDA authorization.
The news comes at a time when Americans are desperate for more and better testing and for scientists to develop a vaccine.
There are more than one million COVID-19 cases nationwide and more than 50,000 have died.
In Texas, more than 26,000 residents have been infected and almost 700 have died.
Copyright 2020. Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. WBAP contributed to this report.
