Abbott's New NAVICA App: What You Need to Know

Editor's Note: As of June 13, 2022, the U.S government has removed the requirement of a negative COVID-19 result to return to the U.S. As more parts of the world reopen and we co-exist with COVID-19, fast and reliable rapid tests will remain a critical tool. You can find more information about verified results for travel here.

Office buildings, schools and other places where people gather in the U.S. are grappling with decisions about whether to open and how broadly to do so, as cases of COVID-19 continue rising in parts of the country. If only there were an easy way to identify people who have tested negative for the virus.

Good news — now there is.

Abbott's new rapid antigen test — the BinaxNOW^™ COVID-19 Ag Card — has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test pairs with an optional app called NAVICA^™ that works like a secure mobile boarding pass, which can be scanned to facilitate easier entry into organizations and facilities.

Chris Scoggins, Abbott's senior vice president, Rapid Diagnostics, answers the five most pressing questions about this first-of-its-kind app that will be available at no charge.

Check it out:

1. What is the NAVICA App?

This is a new app that Abbott designed to pair with our BinaxNOW rapid antigen test for COVID-19. The app works on iPhone and Android devices and allows people to store, access and display their BinaxNOW test results so we can more confidently return to life.

2. How Does the App Work?

When you get Abbott's BinaxNOW test at a NAVICA-enabled test center, the results can be displayed on your NAVICA app. These results are encrypted and available only to you and those whom you choose to share them with.

If you test negative, the app will display a temporary encrypted digital pass with a QR code, similar to an airline boarding pass. The pass will be renewed each time a person takes a new test and receives a negative test result and will include the date of the latest test result. Organizations will be able to view and verify the information on a mobile device to facilitate entry into facilities along with hand-washing, social distancing, enhanced cleaning and mask-wearing. If you test positive, you'll receive a message in the app to quarantine and talk to your doctor.

3. What are the Key Benefits of the NAVICA App for Consumers?

It's all about helping restore a sense of normalcy. Helping people get back to doing the things they love with a little more confidence than they've had during the pandemic.

…for Healthcare Providers?

Many frontline health workers are overwhelmed with people who need to be tested or treated for COVID-19. The NAVICA app allows healthcare providers in all settings to easily display test results to their patients and customers.

…for Organizations like Employers, Schools and Other Places Where People Gather?

Organizations are trying to balance safety with the importance of getting students back into classrooms and adults back to work. The NAVICA app, by displaying the results of our BinaxNOW test, may help reduce the risk of virus spread and increase confidence at places where people tend to gather in large numbers.

4. Where can People Get the App?

The NAVICA app can be downloaded for no charge in the U.S. from the App Store [Apple devices] and the Google Play Store [Android devices]. After downloading the app, you just enter some basic information. The whole process takes about two minutes.

5. How is Abbott Protecting the Security of Personal Information in the App?

Maintaining customers' privacy is always a priority for Abbott. When it comes to the NAVICA app, the data transmitted are encrypted. And users only share their first and last name, email address, phone number, zip code, and date of birth, which limits the sensitive identifying data being shared in the first place. Additionally, the app isn't used for contact tracing, so personal location information is not being tracked or shared.

Want to know more?

Get a closer look at our NAVICA app and our new BinaxNOW rapid antigen test for COVID-19.

The BinaxNOW^™ COVID-19 Ag Card EUA has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization for use by authorized laboratories. The test has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.