Whitaker Calls National Registry “Crucial Tool” for Federal, State Authorities;
Announces More Than 65 Million Tests Shipped Nationwide Since Beginning of Pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In its latest action to help ensure the widespread availability of testing to detect and contain the coronavirus, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) today announced the creation of a comprehensive, national COVID-19 diagnostic supply registry to help state and federal governments in their pandemic responses. The national registry is being launched in partnership with 13 commercial diagnostics manufacturers: Abbott, BD, bioMérieux, Bio-Rad, Beckman Coulter, Cepheid, Hologic, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, QIAGEN, Roche Diagnostics, Sekisui Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.  

The registry’s first publicly released dataset shows that since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 65 million tests have been manufactured and shipped nationwide, with test shipments now topping 800,000 daily.

“It is absolutely vital to our nation’s health and economic recovery that we have sufficient supplies to test everyone who needs it, and, just as important, to know where these supplies are so we can get them where they are most needed,” said Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed. “This national registry will be a crucial tool for federal and state authorities as they work to protect both patients and health care providers and move to reopen the U.S. economy.”

The registry will compile information from diagnostic companies along with publicly available data on daily tests performed to create a centralized and standardized COVID-19 diagnostic supply registry. The registry will provide weekly state- and national-level updates on the number of molecular, antigen, and serology (antibody) tests shipped in the U.S.

AdvaMed’s registry will help streamline communications and data sharing between diagnostic companies and federal and state governments as well as standardize test supply reporting. It will also facilitate collaboration with laboratories and other public health stakeholders to optimize access to all platforms of COVID-19 testing so that any potential shortages are identified and addressed quickly.

AdvaMed has been working closely with the White House, HHS, FDA, FEMA and other key government agencies to ensure the continued supply of diagnostics tests, as well as other vital medical equipment such as PPE and ventilators, in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our industry stepped up and, practically overnight, maximized production of the vital medical technologies and testing we need. But without Secretary Azar’s leadership and that of Deputy Secretary Hargan, and without the help of Commissioner Hahn and Admiral Giroir and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, our industry’s herculean efforts couldn’t have reached their full potential to save lives. We thank Secretary Azar, Deputy Secretary Hargan, Admiral Giroir, and Dr. Hahn for their commitment to improving Americans’ access to COVID testing.

“We hope this registry serves as a key tool in our fight against Covid-19. We stand ready to partner with all providers, laboratories and other key stakeholders in the testing ecosystem to collaborate with the federal and state governments to coordinate efforts to support patient care and public health. Further, we stand ready to work with our partners in the federal government on any policies that would allow this registry to better serve patients and providers in need,” Whitaker concluded.

Early in the pandemic, AdvaMed created an internal Recovery and Rebuilding Task Force to help lead industry efforts both to respond to and recover from the impact of the crisis, tapping BD’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and former AdvaMed Chairman of the Board Vince Forlenza to lead it. Linden Capital Partners Operating Partner Joe Bernardo, as Vice Chair of the AdvaMed Recovery and Rebuilding Task Force, worked closely with Forlenza, AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker, AdvaMedDx Executive Director Susan Van Meter, and members of the AdvaMed and AdvaMedDx Boards to help spearhead the creation and execution of the registry.  

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AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and digital health technologies that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.