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Rapid COVID tests were much more widely available in Europe than in the US this past year, owing to differences in regulation. Also related: https://www.propub

Rapid COVID tests were much more widely available in Europe than in the US this past year, owing to differences in regulation. Also related: https://www.propublica.org/article/this-scientist-created-a-rapid-test-just-weeks-into-the-pandemic-heres-why-you-still-cant-get-it https://www.propublica.org/article/this-scientist-created-a-... https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/briefing/rapid-testing-covid-us.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/briefing/rapid-testing-co...

yosito 5y ago
I was living in Hungary most of 2021. Any time I needed rapid tests, it took me no longer than 20 minutes to get as many as I needed from the nearest pharmacy. I had to pay ~$5/each for them, which was fine for me. On my way to the US, I stopped in Mexico for two weeks (there were no direct flights, so I decided to get some beach time in). Rapid tests were available on every block, and it took 5 minutes to get one any time. Now I'm in Ohio. A family member didn't test before our Christmas Eve gathering (in retrospect, I should have required it), and ended up symptomatic and testing positive yesterday. Today I was searching for tests from 8am, I checked literally every pharmacy in the county, called all of the county health department's testing centers, libraries, universities, etc. There was not a single rapid test available anywhere, at home or on-site. Finally at 1pm the county health department tweeted to me that they got a shipment and it was first come first serve, two tests per person. So I drove over, and by the time I got there, they were handing out the last tests in their box. I was able to get only two tests. They were free, though I would have happily paid for them. But I found it infuriating that it was so impossible to get a rapid test when needed. I still don't have as many as I should on hand. I don't know what kind of backward, shithole country this has become, where even basic healthcare services are unavailable, but I'm considering going back to Mexico or Hungary as soon as possible.
- jessaustin 5y ago
  FDA tries to prevent anything that could lead to less money going to big pharma firms. The theory is that if lots of cheap tests had been available during the deepest depths of the pandemic, transmission would have dropped and fewer people would have consented to vaccination. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/22/nation/man-behind-rapid-test-crusade/ https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/22/nation/man-behind-rap...
- denton-scratch 5y ago
  UK here. There was a shortage of self-test lateral flow tests a couple of weeks ago, but that's over - they have plenty in stock now. I can go to the NHS website and order a pack of 7 tests, and they'll arrive the next day. They're free. Teachers and medical staff don't even have to order them; they're provided (required) at the place of work. I happen to be signed-up for a survey by the Office of National Statistics; they send someone round every week to get a swab from me for PCR testing. I get the result from that by email, the next day. I have more confidence in the LFT than the PCR test, because some of the PCR test labs have been shown to be dodgy. The ONS is doing PCR tests because the PCR test gives them information about variants, that you don't get from the LFT. The ONS cares about variants and how they are mutating and spreading; I don't. LFT is good enough for me. I'm going to do an LFT right now, because I'm about to attend a family gathering.

yosito 5y ago

I was living in Hungary most of 2021. Any time I needed rapid tests, it took me no longer than 20 minutes to get as many as I needed from the nearest pharmacy. I had to pay ~$5/each for them, which was fine for me. On my way to the US, I stopped in Mexico for two weeks (there were no direct flights, so I decided to get some beach time in). Rapid tests were available on every block, and it took 5 minutes to get one any time. Now I'm in Ohio. A family member didn't test before our Christmas Eve gathering (in retrospect, I should have required it), and ended up symptomatic and testing positive yesterday. Today I was searching for tests from 8am, I checked literally every pharmacy in the county, called all of the county health department's testing centers, libraries, universities, etc. There was not a single rapid test available anywhere, at home or on-site. Finally at 1pm the county health department tweeted to me that they got a shipment and it was first come first serve, two tests per person. So I drove over, and by the time I got there, they were handing out the last tests in their box. I was able to get only two tests. They were free, though I would have happily paid for them. But I found it infuriating that it was so impossible to get a rapid test when needed. I still don't have as many as I should on hand. I don't know what kind of backward, shithole country this has become, where even basic healthcare services are unavailable, but I'm considering going back to Mexico or Hungary as soon as possible.

jessaustin 5y ago
FDA tries to prevent anything that could lead to less money going to big pharma firms. The theory is that if lots of cheap tests had been available during the deepest depths of the pandemic, transmission would have dropped and fewer people would have consented to vaccination. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/22/nation/man-behind-rapid-test-crusade/ https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/22/nation/man-behind-rap...
denton-scratch 5y ago
UK here. There was a shortage of self-test lateral flow tests a couple of weeks ago, but that's over - they have plenty in stock now. I can go to the NHS website and order a pack of 7 tests, and they'll arrive the next day. They're free. Teachers and medical staff don't even have to order them; they're provided (required) at the place of work. I happen to be signed-up for a survey by the Office of National Statistics; they send someone round every week to get a swab from me for PCR testing. I get the result from that by email, the next day. I have more confidence in the LFT than the PCR test, because some of the PCR test labs have been shown to be dodgy. The ONS is doing PCR tests because the PCR test gives them information about variants, that you don't get from the LFT. The ONS cares about variants and how they are mutating and spreading; I don't. LFT is good enough for me. I'm going to do an LFT right now, because I'm about to attend a family gathering.