Irvine-based WytCote Technologies, a provider of healthcare-focused monitoring technologies, has gone from monitoring baby boomers to helping babies as it moves forward with its COVID-19 antibody test in a partnership with CHOC Children’s.
The antibody test is not actually for the child patients at the children’s hospital, but rather for the clinicians and staff that are tending to them; the tests are part of a month-long study.
CHOC will determine the prevalence of exposure among staff at the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at CHOC.
WytCote’s antibody test is performed “through a simple finger prick—once per shift—with results available in three minutes,” according to a recent release. CHOC will enroll 250 test subjects—100 of which will be tested daily.
“CHOC Children’s is pleased to help share data and contribute to this important conversation” regarding testing, said Terence Sanger, CHOC’s vice president of research and chief scientific officer.
Sanger, a neurologist who started his position in March, was previously director of the pediatric movement disorders program at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The test has not yet gotten a nod from the Food and Drug Administration, but WytCote has applied for Emergency Use Authorization to accelerate the process. Although the test is promising, the company notes that results for the coronavirus are not 100% effective.
