Abbott Labs gets FDA nod for automated blood screen for HBV

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Abbott Labs gets FDA nod for automated blood screen

Reuters

October 13, 2005 06:03:47 PM PST

Abbott Laboratories Inc. said on Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration has approved its automated machine for screening donated

blood for the hepatitis B virus.

The company said the FDA continues to review its Prism system's use for

additional hepatitis and retrovirus screening tests, including a test for

HIV.

Abbott, based in suburban Chicago, said it also has other Prism assays in

development.

Before a blood donation can enter the blood supply, it is tested for

exposure to viruses that might cause disease. Currently, the screening

process involves numerous assays, multiple test instruments and many manual

steps.

The Prism instrument consolidates much of this testing into a single system,

according to Abbott, reducing the risk of accidents, errors and tampering.

The Prism system is already used in more than 30 countries outside the

United States.

According to the American Association of Blood Banks, around 8 million

volunteers donate about 15 million units of whole blood each year.

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