STATEWIDE — The Indiana Department of Health has made several changes to testing operations due to high demand and a national shortage of rapid test kits.
Effective immediately, rapid tests at state and local health department testing sites will only be available to individuals aged 18 and younger and symptomatic individuals aged 50 and older.
This change is necessary due to the national shortage of rapid antigen tests and is designed to help ensure that students can 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.
Indiana typically uses about 50,000 rapid tests per week but is only guaranteed to receive 11,000 a week at this time.
Appointments for rapid tests previously scheduled for Tuesday were honored while testing supplies lasted, but no appointments for rapid tests will be honored at state or local health department sites from now on except for those who fall within the above categories.
PCR tests, which are the gold standard, will continue to be offered at all testing sites, with results expected in two to three days.
Hours are being extended at the community testing and vaccination clinic outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from noon until 8 pm Tuesday through Friday and from 8 am until 4 pm on Saturdays through January 22.
The changes are effective as of Tuesday.
The clinic, which is being held in the INDYCAR parking lot at 4551 W. 16th Street in Indianapolis, across from Gate 2, will accept walk-ins only from noon until 4 pm.
The two-dose Pfizer pediatric and adult vaccines, as well as the two-dose Moderna vaccine, are available.
Click on the testing map at www.coronavirus.in.gov to find a testing location.
Visit ourshot.in.gov to find a vaccination site.
