Abbott Begins Hiring to Produce Its New Rapid Covid Test

Abbott Laboratories has begun hiring for facilities in Illinois and Maine that will make the pharmaceutical firm’s new rapid COVID-19 test.

The Illinois site is expected to fill 2,000 new positions. The plant in Westbrook, Maine will hire 1,200 workers. Most of the jobs will be temporary, but are likely to extend well into next year based on the company’s announced production schedule.

Abbott was contracted by the federal government to produce 150 million tests at $5 each. Called BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card, Abbott says the test delivers reliable results in just 15 minutes. The most commonly available current tests take two or more days for results, sometimes even up to a week, depending on where the test was done.

Like other tests, Abbott’s requires taking a nasal swab. Trained workers activate the test kit, inserting the swab into a “test well” in a credit card-sized cardboard test card. Results are ready in 15 minutes. The presence of a COVID infection shows up as two pink/purple lines.

Use of the test is intended for individuals “suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first seven days of symptom onset,” said the Food and Drug Administration.

The test was fast tracked by the FDA, getting emergency approval on August 26. The following day, the government announced the deal to acquire a supply of the tests for $750 million.

Abbott has also created Navica, an app allowing those who test negative to demonstrate their COVID status. Abbott says it will serve as a “digital ‘boarding pass’ that can be scanned to enter organizations and other places where people gather.”

Most of the new jobs don’t require any technical experience. Abbott said it will provide all the training production workers will need.

Photo provided by
United Nations COVID-19 Response

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Tish Halle
General Interest Green Key News Professional Support Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Tish Halle

Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization

Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management

Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023

Benefits of Offering Summer Hours
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Benefits of Offering Summer Hours

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Jack Staub
General Interest Green Key News Pharma Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Jack Staub

How to Stand Out at a Career Fair
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Worklife

How to Stand Out at a Career Fair

4 Ways that Green Key Creates a Mentally Positive Environment
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

4 Ways that Green Key Creates a Mentally Positive Environment

Approaches in Learning: Differences Across Generations
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

Approaches in Learning: Differences Across Generations

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Julian Davis
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Leadership + Management Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Julian Davis

Mental Health Awareness: Support in the Workplace
General Interest Green Key News Healthcare Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Mental Health Awareness: Support in the Workplace

Updated Markets for the Green Key AEC National Team
Architecture + Engineering General Interest Green Key News Worklife

Updated Markets for the Green Key AEC National Team

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Judy Holt
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Professional Support Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Judy Holt

How to Keep Candidates Engaged During the Hiring Process
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Worklife

How to Keep Candidates Engaged During the Hiring Process

AI in Recruiting: Pros & Cons
General Interest Green Key News Information Technology Marketing Technology Worklife

AI in Recruiting: Pros & Cons

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alyssa Durham
Accounting + Finance General Interest Green Key News Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Alyssa Durham

Green Key Unlocked: The Story of Green Key
Accounting + Finance Architecture + Engineering Financial Services General Interest Green Key News Healthcare Human Resources Information Technology Leadership + Management Legal Support Marketing Technology Pharma Professional Support Worklife

Green Key Unlocked: The Story of Green Key

How to Keep Your Team Motivated
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

How to Keep Your Team Motivated

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Mia Johnson
Accounting + Finance General Interest Green Key News Worklife

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Mia Johnson

Impact of Women in Leadership
General Interest Green Key News Human Resources Leadership + Management Worklife

Impact of Women in Leadership

Recognizing Women’s History Month in the Workplace
General Interest Green Key News Leadership + Management Worklife

Recognizing Women’s History Month in the Workplace

Latest Blog Posts
View All Posts
#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Tish Halle

#WeAreGreenKey: Spotlight on Tish Halle

Having come from the hospitality industry, Tish took her relationship-building skills to the next level when she started her journey...
Read More
Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization

Upskilling: Tips & Benefits for Your Organization

Upskilling is the process of employees at your company learning new skills to advance their careers and pursue new opportunities.
Read More
Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023

Forbes Names Green Key on Lists of America’s Best Recruiting and Staffing Firms 2023

Forbes has named Green Key Resources among their lists of America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms, America's Best Professional Recruiting Firms,...
Read More