Abbott has launched its third test for coronavirus (COVID-19) and is shipping tests to hospitals across the U.S.

The test is a serology test also called an antibody test which could be a critical next step in battling this virus.

Abbott's test helps to detect the IgG antibody to SARS-CoV-2. Detecting these IgG antibodies will help determine if a person was previously infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

The new antibody test is to be used on Abbott's ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR laboratory instruments, which can run up to 100-200 tests an hour.

Abbott first made the test available as part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's notification without an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) pathway that was outlined for COVID-19 diagnostic tests during the public health emergency. Since then, Abbott has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA and CE Mark in Europe.

Abbott is significantly scaling up manufacturing for antibody testing with the plans to ship millions of tests to U.S. customers. Abbott plans to ship 20 million antibody tests in the U.S. in June and beyond as it expands its testing capabilities to Alinity i lab system.

This antibody test adds to Abbott’s existing COVID-19 molecular tests that are already being used Abbott's m2000 lab test and rapid, ID NOW point-of-care test.

While molecular testing (such as Abbott’s m2000 and point-of-care tests) identify people with the virus, antibody tests can tell whether someone has been previously infected.

This type of knowledge will enable scientists to better understand how long these antibodies stay in the body and if they provide immunity. This information can also help public health officials understand how widespread the outbreak is and could help support the development of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

Although Abbott’s antibody test is new, the two ARCHITECT instruments it runs on are already being used for critical diagnostic tests in labs worldwide. More than 2,000 of the instruments are used in the U.S.