Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) announced today that it received CE Mark for and launched its immune assessment product for COVID-19 patients.
The BD Multitest 6-color TBNK reagent with BD Trucount tubes received the European regulatory approval with expanded clinical application for the identification and enumberation of T-cell subtypes in COVID-19 patients to help inform the clinical course of action for the patient.
Accurate T-cell counts can inform healthcare providers because of the role of the T-cell in viral killing and antibody response, according to a news release.
BD’s new product uses the immune assessment technology to enable clinicians to go beyond the complete blood count and allow them to understand the underlying mechanisms for severity in COVID-19 patients, particularly ones with co-morbidities. The test has previously been used to assess immune function in HIV patients.
“The availability of this product with the expanded clinical application in COVID-19 patients is an important step in helping clinicians better understand how patient immune systems are responding to COVID-19 infection,” BD worldwide biosciences president Puneet Sarin said in the release. “BD is a trusted partner in immunology research and clinical care with a long history helping clinicians and patients better understand immune function to make patient care decisions.
“Bringing this expertise to clinicians treating COVID-19 patients presents a great opportunity to enable deeper immune assessment of patients, which could lead to improved uses of precious resources within a hospital while helping get patients on the right clinical path.”