Demand high, supply low for COVID-19 rapid tests

Demand is surging for rapid COVID-19 tests that deliver results in about 15 minutes.

Only a few locations outside of hospitals, including Med First Primary and Urgent Care, are offering the service in North Carolina. Booking an appointments is no easy tasks.

The line started forming an hour before Med First in Chapel Hill had even opened its doors.

“I called several times and couldn’t get through to anybody," said Debbie Essif, who lives in Carrboro.

Appointments for a rapid test are booked at least four days out, but Med First told WRAL's Joe Fisher and other patients the first 15 walk-ins would be tested.

Some people showed up at 6:45 a.m. When the doors opened at 8 a.m., an employee told everyone waiting outside they were out of rapid tests.

“It’s ridiculous that we called yesterday and they told us to come an hour early, and then they didn’t put a note on the door saying sorry you have to wait an hour for nothing," said Amien Essif, who flew into Raleigh from Germany yesterday.

Paul Feneck, CEO of Med First, said the company who supplies the rapid tests has temporarily redirected thousands of tests and supplies to the United States Department of Health and Human Services to help increase testing in nursing homes and other congregate living settings.

“On Monday, we were told the supply was being delayed," Feneck said. "Up to Monday, we had 6,000 test [per month] allocation.”

Since July, calls have spiked 300% at Med First. The clinic is performing 1,500 rapid tests per week across eight locations. To meet the demand, they’ve hired 30 people and will soon launch a call center to help with booking appointments.

“These test are very highly reliable, they are 98% that protect against a false negative and almost 99% against a false positive," said Feneck.

Med First hopes to increase its supply of rapid tests and offer the service at four more locations in the next two weeks.

"At this stage of the game, so many months past the beginning of this crisis, there should be plenty of testing available," said Debbie Essif.

Feneck said rapid tests are covered by insurance. The cost for uninsured patients is $160; however, those who test positive can submit for reimbursement.

WakeMed, Duke and UNC hospitals said rapid tests are reserved largely for patients with symptoms. ​

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said its still working to secure 500,000 rapid tests as part of a multi-state consortium announced last month. NCDHH has not said how much money it plans to spend on the rapid tests.