Demand for rapid at-home COVID-19 tests is so high, pharmacies are rationing
3 years ago

Demand for rapid at-home COVID-19 tests is so high, pharmacies are rationing

LA Times  

One highly sought-after item to prepare for safer holiday gatherings is frustratingly hard to find — at-home rapid COVID-19 tests. Sax said he wouldn’t visit his parents if he had any signs of a respiratory illness, such as a scratchy throat, even if the rapid test results showed a negative result. “I would not go visit grandma with a respiratory tract infection in the COVID-19 era, period,” Sax said If a rapid test turns up positive, “you must consider yourself infected and isolate immediately,” said Dr. Rapid tests may result in a small number of people getting a negative test result when they’re actually positive, Terashita said. L.A. County’s Department of Health Services said there are hundreds of COVID-19 testing partners in the county, some of which offer rapid tests and same-day results.

Results Test Result Tests Testing California High Biden Demand Covid Pcr Rapid Cvs Negative Omicron Sax Rapid Tests Pcr Tests Terashita Binaxnow  tests  negative  high  rapid  result  omicron  athome  results  test  pharmacies  demand  testing  covid19  rationing

History of this topic

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost
4 months ago

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — On the heels of a summer wave of COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September. U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens, according to the website, COVIDtests.gov. The announcement also comes as the …

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Sick with COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard

LA Times  

California’s hospitals are getting busier with more COVID-19 and flu patients, some of whom are suffering from both viruses at the same time. L.A. County’s entry into the “medium” COVID-19 hospitalization category has prompted local public health officials to order hospitals, nursing homes and any other inpatient facility to require healthcare employees mask up while in patient-care areas. Multiple tests …

Masks, social distancing back on as schools fear Covid-19 disruption
1 year ago

Masks, social distancing back on as schools fear Covid-19 disruption

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Safety precautions to combat the spread of Coronavirus are being reinforced at many educational institutions following reports of a spike in cases in Kerala and Karnataka, while five new infections in Hyderabad took the count of active cases to 14. Authorities are issuing advisories urging students and staff to practice social distancing, ensure mask discipline, avoid group gatherings, undergo …

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail
1 year, 1 month ago

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery. The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season. The new release of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests also comes ahead of the first winter since the pandemic started that …

More free, at-home Covid-19 tests available for US residents through government
1 year, 1 month ago

More free, at-home Covid-19 tests available for US residents through government

CNN  

CNN — US households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home Covid-19 tests — free of cost — through the government. As of Monday, residential households in the US can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen Covid-19 tests. Residents who haven’t placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will …

US government issues new COVID-19 guidelines for households, free rapid tests
1 year, 2 months ago

US government issues new COVID-19 guidelines for households, free rapid tests

Hindustan Times  

United States has restarted its free Covid test program. As per the latest update, four more free COVID-19 rapid tests per household, can be ordered from the official website of the United States government- COVIDTests.gov. COVID-19 antigen home tests The free COVID-19 rapid tests, are aimed to help uninsured individuals and underserved communities. According to the information available on the …

Covid-19: US households will be able to order more free tests starting Monday
1 year, 3 months ago

Covid-19: US households will be able to order more free tests starting Monday

CNN  

CNN — The US government will relaunch a program to provide free Covid-19 home tests to Americans, US Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. Becerra said HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response “has been resupplying our stockpile.” The tests coming available soon are intended for use through the end of 2023 and will include instructions on how …

Ramp up Covid testing to stay alert: Centre to states
1 year, 8 months ago

Ramp up Covid testing to stay alert: Centre to states

Hindustan Times  

The Union government on Saturday directed states to increase testing for Covid-19 as per the World Health Organization’s guidelines to effectively check any increase in its spread, people familiar with the matter said. “In the past several weeks, in some states Covid-19 testing has declined and the current testing levels are insufficient as compared to the standards prescribed by WHO,” …

COVID-19 test expired? Check this before you throw it out
2 years, 4 months ago

COVID-19 test expired? Check this before you throw it out

LA Times  

Federal regulators have extended some tests’ expiration dates, meaning certain kits are now usable for months longer. California Concerns over accuracy of COVID rapid test results when first sick Health officials stress that at-home tests are a vital and accurate way of tracking COVID-19 infections but an initial negative test doesn’t mean people are out of the woods. “When a …

Concerns over accuracy of COVID rapid test results when first sick
2 years, 4 months ago

Concerns over accuracy of COVID rapid test results when first sick

LA Times  

At-home coronavirus screening has become a way of life for many Californians, but some medical experts are now cautioning that one test may not be enough to definitively determine whether someone is infected. “However, if you perform an at-home COVID-19 antigen test, you could get a false negative result.” World & Nation CDC director announces shake-up, citing COVID mistakes The …

FDA: Take 3 home tests if exposed to COVID to boost accuracy
2 years, 4 months ago

FDA: Take 3 home tests if exposed to COVID to boost accuracy

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — If you were exposed to COVID-19, take three home tests instead of two to make sure you’re not infected, according to new U.S. recommendations released Thursday. Previously, the Food and Drug Administration had advised taking two rapid antigen tests over two or three days to rule out infection. Thursday’s update reflects the evolving understanding of the accuracy of …

If exposed to the coronavirus, take 3 home tests to boost accuracy, FDA now says
2 years, 4 months ago

If exposed to the coronavirus, take 3 home tests to boost accuracy, FDA now says

LA Times  

Boxes of rapid coronavirus tests are displayed for sale at a drugstore. People screening themselves at home should use three tests to more accurately detect the virus, according to new FDA recommendations. If you were exposed to the coronavirus, take three home tests instead of two to make sure you’re not infected, according to new U.S. recommendations released Thursday. But …

You just tested yourself for COVID-19. Should you report the results to L.A. County?
2 years, 5 months ago

You just tested yourself for COVID-19. Should you report the results to L.A. County?

LA Times  

Testing more people more often could help identify outbreaks and limit their spread. But for a variety of reasons, a growing reliance on at-home rapid test kits may not help public health officials in their battle to track the pandemic. A spokeswoman said the Public Health Department “will be documenting and interviewing those that do call us with positive results.” …

Doctors urge people with COVID symptoms to seek PCR tests as reports of false negatives from RATs rise
2 years, 5 months ago

Doctors urge people with COVID symptoms to seek PCR tests as reports of false negatives from RATs rise

ABC  

Allie and her family have been through many boxes of rapid antigen tests. "He then tested positive because he'd made my husband go to the office, so I think that shows RATs are rubbish," Allie said. Allie's story is an increasingly common one and as new variants drive a surge in COVID cases in Australia, doctors are warning against relying …

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges
2 years, 7 months ago

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges

News 18  

Testing for Covid-19 has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral mutants as they emerge and spread. Were not testing anywhere near where we might need to, said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who directs the Duke Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. Mara Aspinall, managing …

My At-Home Rapid Test Is Negative, But Could I Still Have COVID?
2 years, 7 months ago

My At-Home Rapid Test Is Negative, But Could I Still Have COVID?

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING In the age of omicron, where COVID’s attack rate is higher than previous variants, entire households and friend groups are getting sick. As variants have emerged, scientists have wondered if the new mutations could impact rapid tests’ ability to detect the changing virus — but this hasn’t been the case. A study from UMass Chan Medical School …

Ordering is underway for Covid-19 test-to-treat program’s antiviral drugs, White House says
2 years, 9 months ago

Ordering is underway for Covid-19 test-to-treat program’s antiviral drugs, White House says

CNN  

CNN — Antiviral medication orders for the White House’s Covid-19 test-to-treat program are underway. “We’ve had more than 1,000 pharmacy-based clinic sites register today, so that even exceeded our expectations for day one of this program,” he said, and now “the ordering process is underway.” But this doesn’t mean people can get Covid-19 treatment through the program just yet; orders …

Rapid COVID-19 home tests surge in India, experts flag risks
2 years, 10 months ago

Rapid COVID-19 home tests surge in India, experts flag risks

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — On New Year’s Eve, the Indian government wrote to states encouraging them to promote the use of COVID-19 home tests, especially for people who are experiencing symptoms, in a bid to avoid straining local health systems. “If I had to guess, maybe only 20% of people using home tests are reporting it,” said K Srinath Reddy, president …

Rapid antigen tests compulsory for people presenting to WA hospitals, as COVID outbreak grows
2 years, 10 months ago

Rapid antigen tests compulsory for people presenting to WA hospitals, as COVID outbreak grows

ABC  

Rapid antigen test screening is being introduced in hospitals across Perth and the South West today, as the state records 26 new local cases of COVID-19. Key points: Rapid Antigen Tests will be conducted outside hospitals before patients are allowed in Rapid Antigen Tests will be conducted outside hospitals before patients are allowed in The tests will be used at …

South Australia records one COVID-linked death and 1,234 new cases, authorities urge more people to get PCR tests
2 years, 10 months ago

South Australia records one COVID-linked death and 1,234 new cases, authorities urge more people to get PCR tests

ABC  

South Australia has recorded another COVID-linked death and 1,234 new cases of the virus, with health authorities now seeking to arrest a decline in PCR testing. "It's far more accurate than rapid antigen tests, so we're now saying, as of today, everyone with symptoms, whether they be a close contact or somebody who develops symptoms, needs to have the PCR …

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel
2 years, 10 months ago

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel

Daily Mail  

Dr David Weber, an epidemiologist at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that at-home tests distributed by the Biden administration may not be usable for travel requirements Free home COVID tests funded by Joe Biden will likely not be approved to get around existing travel rules because it is too easy to fake a negative result, a health expert has warned. Dr David …

Why rapid COVID tests aren't more accurate and how scientists hope to improve them
2 years, 11 months ago

Why rapid COVID tests aren't more accurate and how scientists hope to improve them

NPR  

Why rapid COVID tests aren't more accurate and how scientists hope to improve them Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images How much should you trust the results of a rapid antigen test? Sponsor Message That finding prompted the Food and Drug Administration to update its online guidance in late December to …

Covid negative despite symptoms, being close to infected person? Here's why
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid negative despite symptoms, being close to infected person? Here's why

India Today  

Several people test negative for Covid-19 even after showing symptoms or when their family members have tested positive. Therefore, on the first day of symptoms, the test might show a negative result," said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, clinical researcher advising the Covid task force, IMA Kochi, Kerala. Six days after the onset of symptoms is considered the optimal timing, but many …

US Begins Offering Free Covid-19 Test Kits, but Doubts Persist
2 years, 11 months ago

US Begins Offering Free Covid-19 Test Kits, but Doubts Persist

News 18  

For the first time, all Americans can log on to a government website and order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. While private companies are now producing more than 250 million at-home tests per month, that is still not enough to allow most Americans to frequently test themselves. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for all teens and adults …

AP yet to enhance RT-PCR tests to check Covid-19
2 years, 11 months ago

AP yet to enhance RT-PCR tests to check Covid-19

Deccan Chronicle  

Vijayawada: Though the centre has urged states and union territories to enhance Covid-19 tests, Andhra Pradesh government appears not yet fully geared to speed up RT-PCR tests. Strangely, the number of swab samples being collected presently is 20 per PHC, which comes as a surprise, as it delays the number of people being subject to RT-PCR tests. In addition, the …

More free rapid COVID tests are coming. Here’s what we know so far
2 years, 11 months ago

More free rapid COVID tests are coming. Here’s what we know so far

LA Times  

Abbott Laboratories’ BinaxNOW is one of at least 14 at-home antigen COVID-19 tests authorized for over-the-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration. The Biden administration announced Monday that insurers will be required to cover the cost of rapid home COVID tests for their customers, starting Saturday. People with insurance can also order free test kits from COVIDTests.gov, the administration …

RATs in short supply: Rapid antigen test shortage shows little sign of ending soon
2 years, 11 months ago

RATs in short supply: Rapid antigen test shortage shows little sign of ending soon

ABC  

Australians are desperately searching for rapid antigen tests, but retail supplies remain limited and are unlikely to improve significantly for several weeks. Key points: Suppliers are bringing in millions of rapid antigen tests a week, but say deman still outstrips supply A major increase in supplies is not expected for weeks, possibly not until mid-February In some states and territories, …

Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday
2 years, 11 months ago

Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday

LA Times  

A worker picks up two at-home COVID-19 test kits to be handed out during a distribution event in Youngstown, Ohio, on Dec. 30. Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans. “By requiring private health plans to cover people’s at-home tests, we are further expanding …

Why are rapid tests for COVID-19 in such short supply?
2 years, 11 months ago

Why are rapid tests for COVID-19 in such short supply?

LA Times  

Boxes of BinaxNow home COVID-19 tests made by Abbott are shown for sale in November at a CVS store in Lakewood, Wash. Is that tickle in your nose COVID-19, or just a cold? Abbott Laboratories, which makes the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test, expects to produce 70 million tests this month and is working to raise that to 100 million, said …

An ‘awful’ month of Covid-19 lies ahead, doctor says, but preventative measures will still be key
2 years, 11 months ago

An ‘awful’ month of Covid-19 lies ahead, doctor says, but preventative measures will still be key

CNN  

CNN — While the highly transmissible Omicron variant continues to drive up Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations – and the numbers are likely to get worse before they get better – health experts say it’s critical Americans continue safe practices to prevent infections. An ensemble forecast from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Wednesday predicts that more than …

Queenslanders wanting COVID-19 test to 'do the right thing' or return to work left frustrated and confused
2 years, 11 months ago

Queenslanders wanting COVID-19 test to 'do the right thing' or return to work left frustrated and confused

ABC  

Queensland's COVID-19 testing clinics are so overwhelmed, many people are being turned away without getting swabbed, while others are going to extreme lengths to get tested to protect family members, satisfy work and childcare requirements, or to have elective surgery. Key points: You should get a rapid antigen test if you need to leave home quarantine or have been around …

COVID rapid antigen tests can return false negatives, but experts say they're accurate when it counts the most
2 years, 11 months ago

COVID rapid antigen tests can return false negatives, but experts say they're accurate when it counts the most

ABC  

When Sydney man Andrew Colagiuri developed COVID-19 symptoms, he was too sick to line up for a standard swab, known as a PCR test. Key points: Rapid antigen tests are more likely to return false negatives than PCR tests But experts say they are useful for identifying when a person is at their most infectious There are calls for a …

Rapid Covid tests not as accurate with Omicron: US regulator
2 years, 11 months ago

Rapid Covid tests not as accurate with Omicron: US regulator

Raw Story  

Rapid Covid home tests are more likely to give a false negative with the heavily-mutated Omicron variant compared to earlier strains, the US Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. In a statement, the FDA said it was collaborating with the National Institutes of Health to study the performance of home tests, also known as "antigen" tests, against patient samples containing …

Frustration and heartbreak as COVID-19 testing delays force some to spend holidays alone
2 years, 11 months ago

Frustration and heartbreak as COVID-19 testing delays force some to spend holidays alone

ABC  

Kate Perry spent Christmas in isolation and in tears, waiting for a COVID-19 test result she had expected to receive days earlier. But Victoria's COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said one pathology provider that had laboratories interstate was taking "a little bit longer" to get test results turned around. Mr Weimar said the increased testing load from interstate travellers was "jamming …

Can I get my COVID-19 booster sooner? How can I have a COVID-19 safe Christmas? Here are some of your common questions answered
3 years ago

Can I get my COVID-19 booster sooner? How can I have a COVID-19 safe Christmas? Here are some of your common questions answered

ABC  

Every month the ABC receives thousands of questions about COVID-19 from our readers, and this month has been no exception with changes to interstate borders, rising case numbers, and the Christmas season approaching. COVID-19 PCR tests involve swabs being put up your nose and down your throat – and they're what most governments will need if you plan to travel …

NSW pharmacies, supermarkets selling out of rapid COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in Christmas rush
3 years ago

NSW pharmacies, supermarkets selling out of rapid COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in Christmas rush

ABC  

Rapid COVID-19 tests have almost vanished from shelves in New South Wales pharmacies and supermarkets, making them so scarce that one store owner likened the humble product to "a bar of gold". Key points: Store owner says he keeps test kits behind the counter More stock expect to arrive in coming days Premier to raise supply issue at National Cabinet …

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide
3 years ago

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide

CNN  

CNN — With coronavirus cases surging once again, frustrated Americans are struggling to get tested days before Christmas as long lines and increased demand overwhelm some facilities across the country. People who have been previously infected with Covid-19 and remain unvaccinated “should not assume that have protection against Omicron,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Tuesday. As to whether …

COVID-19 tests are in high demand with the winter surge. Here’s how to get them
3 years ago

COVID-19 tests are in high demand with the winter surge. Here’s how to get them

LA Times  

Rapid COVID-19 test kits, such as this one from Lucira, can be ordered online. “If you’re going to be indoors, you all should be testing before you show up at that gathering,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer has said. Testing sites Here is information on getting tested: Los Angeles County Los Angeles city Long Beach Pasadena Orange …

Covid-19 tests get harder to find as omicron variant spreads
3 years ago

Covid-19 tests get harder to find as omicron variant spreads

Live Mint  

Waiting times for Covid-19 tests are growing in parts of the U.S. as concerns over the Omicron variant, new infections and the coming holidays drive up demand. Many laboratories are still processing tests within a day or two and have the capacity to meet the heightened demand, said lab operators and pharmacies. Officials in New York City, where lines stretched …

7 Rapid At-Home Covid-19 Tests—and Where to Find Them
3 years ago

7 Rapid At-Home Covid-19 Tests—and Where to Find Them

Wired  

If you test negative: Experiencing Covid-19 symptoms but got a negative test result? Rapid At-Home Covid-19 Tests We Like Abbott BinaxNow Antigen Rapid Self-Test Kit Photograph: Abbott Abbot’s BinaxNow kit provides results within 15 minutes of swabbing your nose and inserting the sample into the included test card. Intrivo Diagnostics On/Go Antigen Test Photograph: Intrivo Diagnostics On/Go’s at-home kit comes …

Should I change my holiday plans because of COVID-19 surge, Omicron? What experts say
3 years ago

Should I change my holiday plans because of COVID-19 surge, Omicron? What experts say

LA Times  

Nearly 100 boats participate in the opening day of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade on Wednesday. “That superspreader event in Norway is like a perfect example of how you can disseminate COVID very quickly: You put a bunch of people together in a place that probably has poor ventilation because it’s winter time; you have them talking loudly at …

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer?
3 years, 1 month ago

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer?

Associated Press  

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer? Yes, combined with vaccination, home test kits for COVID-19 can add a layer of safety and reassurance by providing on-the-spot results during this second year of pandemic holidays. “We will be using rapid tests to doublecheck everybody before we gather together,” says Dr. Emily Volk, president of the College of American Pathologists, …

US falls behind on at-home Covid tests
3 years, 1 month ago

US falls behind on at-home Covid tests

CNN  

This is the weekly edition of CNN’s coronavirus newsletter. The National Institutes of Health’s $70 million pledge, announced last week, promises to get more tests onto the market by identifying and encouraging new manufacturers and easing the obstacles in getting the tests approved. A vast, international review of studies published in March found that few antigen tests met the World …

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to be available in Coles, Woolworths from November
3 years, 1 month ago

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to be available in Coles, Woolworths from November

ABC  

Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths will start stocking rapid antigen COVID-19 tests from early November. "Rapid antigen testing is helping protect our distribution centre team members across Australia from COVID-19," a Woolworths spokesperson said. TGA head John Skerritt said there would be no constraints on where rapid antigen tests could be sold, including online and at petrol stations. Home tests …

How and when to use rapid COVID tests.
54 years, 11 months ago

How and when to use rapid COVID tests.

Slate  

A version of this article first appeared in Emily Oster’s newsletter, ParentData. The rapid tests are highly accurate during an individual’s most infectious state, which is typically when your body starts showing symptoms, so in this case you’re likely to find out if it is COVID. My 15-month-old stayed home from day care for three days with a runny nose, …

US commits $1 billion access to rapid, at-home Covid tests
3 years, 2 months ago

US commits $1 billion access to rapid, at-home Covid tests

India TV News  

The White House has announced an investment worth $1 billion worth for rapid, at-home coronavirus tests to address ongoing shortages. The move will quadruple the number of tests available to Americans by December, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, was quoted as saying at a press briefing on Wednesday. "That means, we'll have an available supply of 200 …

The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests
3 years, 2 months ago

The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests

NPR  

The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP The White House is allocating an additional $1 billion to purchase millions of rapid at-home tests for COVID-19, in response to an ongoing national shortage of these tests. Zients said that Wednesday's action now puts …

COVID-19 rapid antigen home testing to be available from November
3 years, 2 months ago

COVID-19 rapid antigen home testing to be available from November

ABC  

Australians will be able to test themselves for COVID-19 at home from November, once the national medical regulator approves the testing measure. Key points: Rapid COVID-19 antigen tests will be available for home use from November Dozens of testing kits are already approved for use, but currently require the supervision of a health professional States and territories will decide how …

As Delta variant surges, so does demand for at-home covid-19 tests
3 years, 3 months ago

As Delta variant surges, so does demand for at-home covid-19 tests

Live Mint  

Demand for at-home Covid-19 tests has risen sharply in recent weeks as the Delta variant surges across the U.S., causing test makers to scramble to keep pace. Much of the Covid-19 diagnostic testing in the U.S. has involved not antigen tests but molecular tests, which detect the virus’s genetic material and typically are processed by laboratories—a more time-consuming process. Demand …

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