INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana State Department of Health (IDOH) is changing testing operations due to high demand and a national shortage of COVID-19 rapid tests kits.
Starting this week, rapid tests at state and local health department testing sites are only available to residents aged 18 and younger and symptomatic individuals 50 and older. IDOH says the change is necessary due to the shortage of rapid antigen tests. It is designed to help ensure that students stay in school and that Hoosiers who are most likely to need a monoclonal antibody are identified within the prescribed window in which they can be administered.
The state typically uses about 50,000 rapid tests per week but is now only receiving 11,000 weekly.
Going forward, appointments that were already made for rapid tests will not be honored at the state or local health department sites, except for those who fall within the above-mentioned categories. PCR tests will continue to be offered at all testing sites, with results expected in two to three days.