Abbott gains approval for tests

NORTH CHICAGO - Abbott announced Monday that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market a new test for sexually transmitted diseases. The molecular diagnostic test and instrument simultaneously detect two of the nation's most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea and chlamydia. The tests are required to be used together as a system for the detection of CT/NG from multiple specimen types including urine, urethral, vaginal and endocervical swabs. Also cleared was the Abbott multi-Collect Specimen Collection Kit. Left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, urethritis and sterility.