Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA, Gates Foundation, UnitedHealth Group, Quantigen, and US Cotton collaborate to address testing supply needs

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-gates-foundation-unitedhealth-group-quantigen-and-us-cotton?utm_campaign=041620_PR_Coronavirus%20%28COVID-19%29%20Update%3A%20FDA%20addresses%20testing%20supply%20needs&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA, Gates Foundation, UnitedHealth Group, Quantigen, and US Cotton collaborate to address testing supply needs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a further expansion of COVID-19 testing options through the recognition that spun synthetic swabs – with a design similar to Q-tips – could be used to test patients by collecting a sample from the front of the nose. As part of this effort, U.S. Cotton, the largest manufacturer of cotton swabs and a subsidiary of Parkdale-Mills, developed a polyester-based Q-tip-type swab that is fully synthetic for compatibility with COVID-19 testing. Harnessing its large-scale U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities, U.S. Cotton plans to produce these new polyester swabs in large quantities to help meet the needs for coronavirus diagnostic testing. “This action today demonstrates the ingenuity that results from the FDA working in partnership with the private sector. The Trump Administration has been working side-by-side with our industry partners to fight this pandemic, and today is a great example of that work. We appreciate work by UnitedHealth Group, Quantigen, and the Gates Foundation to ...

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