Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup September 24, 2020

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continued to take action in the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

The FDA re-issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Assure COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Device, making it the first authorized serology (antibody) test that can be used at the point of care (POC), meaning it is authorized for use in patient care settings operating under a CLIA Certificate of Waiver, Certificate of Compliance, or Certificate of Accreditation.
The FDA added one new device to the Device Discontinuance List on the Medical Device Shortages During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency web page. There are no updates to the Device Shortage List. Since the web page was first published, the FDA also updated the web page to clarify how we determine what devices are in shortage, as well as how the analysis informs other measures the FDA uses to help address the public health emergency, including issuing Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) and providing enforcement discretion for products that play an important role in meeting demand, as well as working with other federal partners. The FDA will continue to update the lists as the COVID-19 public health emergency evolves.
FDA developed new health education materials that have been culturally and linguistically tailored for diverse consumers. These materials are intended for health care professionals to share with their patients to help stimulate dialogue and answer pressing questions about FDA’s response to COVID-19. The materials provide information on the different areas of the FDA’s response to the pandemic, including health fraud, medical product supply, therapeutics, vaccine development, and diagnostic and antibody testing.
Testing updates:
- As of today, 254 tests are authorized by FDA under EUAs; these include 203 molecular tests, 47 antibody tests, and 4 antigen tests.