As the Omicron Variant Continues to Spread Globally, it’s Important to Understand Covid-19 testing.

As the omicron variant continues to spread globally and overwhelm healthcare systems here in the US, one struggle as of late has been the availability of COVID testing. Shortly before the Christmas holiday we saw a surge of the infection rate, which has created a significant demand for over the counter (OTC) rapid antigen tests. Major retailers including CVS and Walgreens are having a difficult time keeping up with the demand in the consumer marketplace. Typical with any supply and demand issue we’re also seeing a significant increase to the price of COVID-19 tests. An article published by the LA Times noted some digital marketplaces selling these for triple the price.

The limited availability of rapid antigen tests has created a domino effect as we’re seeing large lines at PCR testing sites across several cities in the United States. These locations have had to ramp up quickly with staff and supplies to meet the demand as most had not planned for the rapid spread of the omicron virus. The sudden increase in volume will also be difficult for labs to process timely results.

What does this all mean for employers looking to provide tests ensuring safe return to the workplace? Here at TrackMy we want our clients understand the marketplace and testing options available. As more sellers enter the market, we hope to keep our client base educated and informed. When evaluating what type of COVID test is the right option there’s several factors to consider including cost, testing site, collection type, risk tolerance, and who is authorized to administer the test. The last one being very key here as we’re seeing a lot of misuse of the point of care tests. A lot of this being driven by the recent availability and price increases of the rapid antigen OTC tests.

While POC rapid antigen tests can be acquired at a lower price, these types of tests are required to be administered with healthcare provider oversight. If someone is not following the authorized use, it would be considered off-label use of the product. While possible to contract out through a 3^rd party it would increase the overall cost of employee testing. TrackMy strongly recommends organizations to evaluate the product EUA (see examples linked below) during the procurement process to make sure they understand regulations that apply. These should be publicly available via the FDA website.

The US will likely continue to see supply issues to start 2022 as the Biden administration looks to take steps to make home tests more widely available. There will likely be increased pressure for the FDA to authorize more tests for home use. Many feel the response to testing demand in the US has not been adequate, and somewhat overshadowed by the availability of vaccines. The rapid spread of omicron has brought much of that to light. Regardless of the market we will continue partnering with our suppliers and clients to ensure appropriate use of testing product.

Examples of COVID-19 Testing Options
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