Obstacles Remain As Indiana Tries To Reach Testing Goal

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says there are enough labs up and running across Indiana to do the number of necessary COVID-19 tests the state is aiming for – 6,300 a day.

But Box says there are still obstacles to actually conducting those tests.

The state is urging health care providers to order tests for anyone who is symptomatic for COVID-19. But Box says one challenge is identifying sites statewide where those tests can be administered.

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“Because it is something that does still require usually a nasopharyngeal swab, which usually requires the personal protective equipment to be able to do that testing,” Box says.

A lack of those swabs she mentions are another issue – Box says the state has been trying to buy more swabs and a special solution called “viral transport media” for the tests.

“The federal government has taken over the supply of a lot of this," Box says. "It’s not a question of money – I have plenty of money. If I can find them, I buy them and will buy them.”

As of Wednesday, the most COVID-19 tests run in a single day in Indiana was about 3,300.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Indiana State Department of Health for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.