The Food and Drug Administration has approved a device for U.S. hospitals that can quickly and accurately detect Ebola.
The machine, which was developed for environmental surveillance, has been used by military personnel in Africa.
Salt Lake City-based company BioFire announced over the weekend that the FDA approved the FilmArray for emergency use authorization in hospitals across the U.S., Defense One reported.
When BioFire’s machine is adapted with the right kit, it can screen patients for Ebola within an hour with 90 percent certainty, the website reported.
The FDA’s decision will come as welcome news for hundreds of hospitals nationwide that already use FilmArray to detect a number of other respiratory illnesses.
“We understand the importance of quickly diagnosing Ebola cases in the U.S. and abroad. FDA is committed to working with companies in the most expedited manner to increase the availability of authorized diagnostic tests for Ebola for emergency use during this epidemic,” an FDA spokesperson told Defense One.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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