The driving forces behind the U.S. shortage of COVID Rapid Tests

What's Driving the COVID Rapid Test Shortage? Demand from employers is surging, and so are prices Kristina Fiore medpagetoday

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For several weeks now, rapid tests have been in short supply, for several reasons. There's new demand from employers returning to in-office work. At the same time, manufacturers bet against the need for testing as cases took a nosedive last spring (Abbott notably destroyed several batches of its rapid tests over the summer). Then, there are concerns about the FDA authorization process being too strict, asking manufacturers to meet what some consider an unnecessarily high bar before being allowed on the market.

Experts are saying that the tests can provide a helpful means of controlling spread, especially in offices, schools, long-term care facilities, prisons, and other crowded settings. The White House seems to recognize that value, as it has recently pumped billions into several initiatives aimed at bolstering rapid testing.  ...