Increased demand for rapid COVID-19 tests

New tonight -- employees at clinics across north alabama say they are seeing a spike in demand for rapid covid tests this week -- and it's creating a shortage.

Waay 31's casey albritton joins us live from the central church of christ in athens.

That's where a drive through rapid testing site is available... casey, why is there a surge in demand right now?

This morning i called three different clinics in huntsville...and they were sold out of rapid covid tests by 9:30 a-m... the organizer of this drive through clinic here in athens says he believes the spike in demand is because of the holidays.

Brady aderholt/ nurse practitioner "for the safety of their family members or if they have elderly family members, they just want to come get tested for peace of mind, and surprisingly, a pretty large percentage of those patients are positive."

Brady aderholt owns aderholt medical and a drive through rapid covid testing site in athens... he says with more people wanting to get tested before going home for the holidays, it's creating a problem for some clinics.

Brady aderholt/ nurse practitioner "people come to see us because they went to whatever clinic they went to first and they were out."

He says he's seen an 30 percent increase in demand for rapid tests just this week.

Brady aderholt/ nurse practitioner "we've got plans to beef up staff to make sure patients get in and out in a timely fashion."

Aderholt gets his rapid testing supplies locally...and hasn't had many issues with supply, but he knows that could change.

Brady aderholt/ nurse practitioner "i feel like it's kind of squeezing in on limestone county."

Thomas spain/ huntsville doctor "people have been relaxing some of the precautions we saw over the summer."

Dr. thomas spain says even though he understands people want the rapid test so they can see family for the holidays, that's not enough.

Thomas spain/ huntsville doctor "the negative test, again is not enough to safely get together because we unfortunately see false negative tests.

People who were tested before the test became positive and they are still able to spread the virus."

Aderholt says his drive through testing site will also test for flu-- for more information, you can go to our website at waay tv dot com.

Live in athens, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

Thanks casey.

Some states are now requiring people to test negative for the virus before they travel.

It's to make sure they aren't bringing the virus with them