FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.,
Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BD
(Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global
medical technology company, today announced the publication of a
peer-reviewed study that shows BD's antigen test may be more
selective than PCR (polymerase chain reaction) molecular tests at
detecting people who are contagious and able to spread COVID-19
disease.
The study compared antigen and PCR test results to positive
results using a viral cell culture test. Viral growth in the cell
culture test indicates the presence of live virus in the patient
sample, which may indicate the presence of infectious virus at the
time the sample was taken. If no growth is present in the viral
cell culture test, it is likely that there wasn't enough viable
virus for the patient to be contagious at the time the sample was
taken.
Out of 38 positive PCR result specimens tested, only 28 were
positive using the cell culture technique. The antigen tests,
conducted using the BD Veritor™ Plus System, were positive in 27 of
the 28 cell culture positive tests. This data suggests that 10 of
the 38 PCR positive results were potentially identifying
non-infectious individuals, meaning PCR detected viral RNA
fragments or small amounts of intact SARS-CoV-2 virus and that the
patient wasn't actually contagious at the time the sample was
taken. However, the BD antigen test agreed with all but one cell
culture positive test. Diagnosing and isolating contagious people
has been the primary goal for testing during the pandemic, followed
by contact tracing and testing.
"Point-of-care antigen tests, as demonstrated in this study with
the BD Veritor™ Plus System, have the potential to significantly
change the public health interventions needed to minimize the
spread of COVID-19," said Dr. Charles
Cooper, study co-author and vice president of Medical
Affairs for BD. "By providing a more relevant test to identify
individuals that are likely to be shedding infectious virus and
therefore transmit SARS-CoV-2, we will be in a better position to
contain its spread. Plus, the low cost and scalability of
antigen-based testing makes it an important tool to contain and
suppress COVID-19 community transmission."
The new clinical data was published Jan.
22, 2021 in Clinical Infectious Diseases, an official
journal of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
About the BD Veritor™ System for Rapid Detection of
SARS-CoV-2 Assay
This product has not been FDA cleared or
approved; but has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by
authorized laboratories; This product has been authorized only for
the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other
viruses or pathogens; and, This product is only authorized for the
duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the
authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for
detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of
the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §
360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or
authorization is revoked sooner. For more information on the BD
Veritor™ Plus System, please visit BDVeritor.com.
About BD
BD is one of the largest global medical
technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of
health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery
of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of
health care by developing innovative technology, services and
solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and
clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 65,000
employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety
and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable
laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance
researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of
diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every
country and partners with organizations around the world to address
some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in
close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes,
lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand
access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit
bd.com.
Contacts:
Troy
Kirkpatrick
BD Public Relations
858.617.2361
troy.kirkpatrick@bd.com
|
Kristen M. Stewart,
CFA
BD Strategy & Investor Relations
201.847.5378
kristen.stewart@bd.com
|
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SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)