CDC chief: Reagents critical to coronavirus tests​ 'now are in short supply'

Separately, the government Friday announced funding for development of COVID-19 diagnostic tests from DiaSorin Molecular and Qiagen meant to detect the pathogen in about an hour. 

By Greg Slabodkin • March 13, 2020

FDA chief warns of supply 'pressure' on reagents for coronavirus tests

Qiagen, a major supplier of RNA extraction kits, confirmed to MedTech Dive Thursday that "extraordinary demand for coronavirus testing workflows" is challenging the company's capacity.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 12, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Medical device industry continues to turn to AI

While the industry continues to embrace artificial intelligence, there are still questions about how the new technologies need to be regulated and if they are effective.

By MedTech Dive staff

White House, CDC under fire for availability of coronavirus tests

The Trump administration is facing criticism that federal agencies did not engage the big private labs early enough in the public health emergency.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 11, 2020

ECRI: Poor sterilization, failure to learn from device problems threaten patient safety

The 2020 list put together by the nonprofit ECRI Institute also highlights diagnostic errors as a top patient safety concern for a third consecutive year.

By Maria Rachal • March 10, 2020

Labs step up capacity to meet demand for nationwide coronavirus testing

The Trump administration is relying on the "enormous capacity" of commercial labs to enable wide availability of COVID-19 diagnostic testing to the American public through physicians offices and pharmacies. 

By Greg Slabodkin • March 10, 2020

ACC 2020 meeting canceled as coronavirus spreads in US

Abbott, Edwards and Medtronic were among the medtechs slated to present data at the American College of Cardiology's annual event. "This is a unique time for us all," the organization wrote in a statement Monday.

By Maria Rachal • March 9, 2020

$8.3B in coronavirus funding set in motion as federal agencies ramp up response

The House and Senate passed a bill with allocations for medical supplies and testing as Vice President Mike Pence met with clinical lab execs Wednesday from LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher and others.

By Shannon Muchmore • Updated March 5, 2020

LabCorp launches coronavirus test, Quest in the wings

The updates from the major U.S. clinical labs come days after FDA OK'ed the use of lab developed tests that have not yet received emergency use authorization.

By Maria Rachal • March 5, 2020

Insurer lobby urges coronavirus test coverage, but can't mandate changes

“They can’t require member companies to do anything,” said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

By Samantha Liss • March 5, 2020

UK looks to use Brexit to make device industry more transparent

The House of Commons bill seeks to address a regulatory gap for medical devices, as the previous legal framework is based on EU directives. One element provides new information-sharing powers related to safety.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 5, 2020

Exact Sciences closes takeovers of 2 cancer testing businesses

The deals give the diagnostics company a solid tumor test and R&D capabilities as it aims to expand beyond its flagship Cologuard product.

By Nick Paul Taylor • March 4, 2020

After waffling, Qiagen agrees to $11.5B buyout by Thermo Fisher

Months of will-they-won't-they M&A rumors culminated in the Dutch test maker accepting an offer for a 23% premium on its shares, as Thermo Fisher aims to strengthen its molecular diagnostics and infectious disease efforts.

By Maria Rachal • March 3, 2020

FDA seeks 'right balance' as it permits immediate use of coronavirus tests

"We are not changing our standards for issuing Emergency Use Authorizations," Commissioner Stephen Hahn said Saturday as the agency issued new guidance aimed at accelerating testing capacity in the U.S.

By Susan Kelly • March 2, 2020

Coronavirus: No US shortages of essential devices yet, as FDA monitors more than 60 companies

Still, manufacturers operating 72 plants in China face workforce pressures and surging demand for some equipment, FDA said in an update late Thursday.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 28, 2020

FDA pilots new 510(k) submission template for device manufacturers

The voluntary assessment will enroll up to nine participants that reflect the makeup of the medical device industry.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 27, 2020

FDA bolsters CLIA waiver application recommendations

The agency added new sections on failure alerts, labeling and safeguards, doubling the length of a guidance text for in vitro diagnostic manufacturers in the process. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 26, 2020

Guardant predicts net loss doubling as it takes on Exact Sciences' Cologuard

The cancer testing company's CEO said new studies could open up significant market opportunities, justifying the spending surge.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 25, 2020

1st test for genetic condition tied to developmental delay wins FDA nod

Austin, Texas-based biotech Asuragen won De Novo authorization for a blood test for Fragile X Syndrome, which the agency said is the most common known cause of inherited developmental delay and intellectual disability.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 24, 2020

FDA tracks uptick in masks, other protective gear in coronavirus update

Commissioner Stephen Hahn said the shift in ordering patterns is yet to manifest in a shortage but warned Friday the situation is “evolving and very dynamic.”

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 18, 2020

LabCorp weathers rising personnel costs to beat expectations in Q4

Quest Diagnostics said the trend is an emerging source of pressure, while LabCorp had a more tempered reaction.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 13, 2020

Exact Sciences beefs up sales force as it seeks big Cologuard growth in 2020

The cancer diagnostics company said fresh TV ads and physicians' increasing ability to place orders through an updated version of Epic will spur sales of its colorectal cancer test.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated March 3, 2020

Snapshot: How medtech earnings season is shaping up

Most medtechs offered financial outlooks for 2020 over the last month, but the novel coronavirus could have a longer impact than originally factored in.  

By Maria Rachal • Updated March 6, 2020

Longtime Myriad CEO resigns amid another steep earnings miss, guidance cut

Sales in the prenatal and hereditary cancer divisions, plus the seemingly promising GeneSight line, all declined during the quarter.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 7, 2020

Qiagen, still independent, limps back from 2019

The Dutch maker of infectious disease instruments and consumables is seeking a rebound, with an early boost from coronavirus-driven demand. Cowen analysts noted the firm beat expectations but added: "The bar was quite low."

By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 5, 2020

Emergency use coronavirus tests shows glitches at state level, CDC says

CDC officials said Wednesday that some of the test kits it distributed to states produced inconclusive results when tested independently. The agency noted the tests were not run on patients.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Feb. 13, 2020