Creating a test for a new virus is not easy. Given that China was very little help when this all started set us back in getting an accurate kit out. I really wonder how much of the ability to create test kits exists in this country. Were we dependent on foreign sources (China) for kits? That would explain a lot.
Well, they tried to make it unnecessary complex (the 3 test
in 1 bit) which was an unforced error on our part. Any
plans we have that rely on the good-will or economic
cooperation with China were ill considered.
The biggest problem is the RNA resurgent agents. Only one company makes it in the USA (in Maryland). They’re going to go to three shifts, but it will still take time.
The rest of the manufacturing of RNA resurgent agents are made overseas—including China. So THAT supply was cut.
From USA Today:
Testing for coronavirus typically uses reagents, which are chemical substances used in laboratory analyses. The reagents extract, purify and stabilize RNA, or ribonucleic acid, in samples taken from patients suspected of having COVID-19.
That’s the first step in confirming or ruling out a tentative diagnosis. Qiagen says it leads the world in this type of testing.
Testing demand has led to a shortage of reagents for the RNA extraction process, said Dr. Eric Blank, the chief program officer for the Association of Public Health Laboratories, which represents state and local governmental health laboratories in the USA and responds to disease outbreaks.
It doesn’t explain how Hong Kong and South Korea got their testing ramped up so fast to very high volumes. Why weren’t we learning for what they were doing?
the obvious question is why has the rest of the world managed to deploy tests, even in third world countries?