FDA authorizes first commercial monkeypox test, pertussis vaccine for young infants

The Food and Drug Administration Friday authorized for emergency use the first commercial test kit to detect monkeypox in lesion swab specimens. Only laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments to perform moderate or high complexity tests are authorized to perform the Abbott Molecular test. 
 
In other news, the FDA approved the first vaccine to administer to mothers during pregnancy to prevent whooping cough (pertussis) in infants under two months old. The Boostrix vaccine previously was approved to protect pregnant women, adults and children age 10 and older.