Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its first emergency use authorization for a point-of-care COVID-19 antibody test. The test, previously authorized for emergency use by certain labs, uses a blood sample taken from the fingertip. In announcing the authorization, the FDA asserted the availability of point-of-care antibody tests “will enable more timely and convenient results for individuals who want to understand if they have previously been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.” (FDA news release, 9/23/20)
