COVID-19 testing delays continue

COVID-19 testing delays are being reported as some states see spikes in cases.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.MATT: WE HAVE HEARD IT TIME ANDAGAIN FROM EXPERTS RAMPED UP, TESTING IS KEY TO GETTINGCOVID-19 UNDER CONTROL.BUT, A GROWING NATIONWIDE SURGEIS TAKING A TOLL ON THE EFFORT.DOCTORS AT JOHNS HOPKINSUNIVERSITY, WHICH HAS BEENTRACKING THE VIRUS FROM THESTART, SAY RESULTS NOW LAGGINGBY A WEEK OR MORE HURTS BOTHISOLATION EFFORTS AND CONTACTRACING.TWO OF THE NATION’S BIGGESTTESTING LABS SAY THEY ARE BOINCREASING CAPACITY, BUT BOTHADMIT THEY HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO-- NOT BEEN ABLE TO STAY AHEADOF THE RECENT SPIKE IN DEMAND.YESTERDAY, QUEST DIAGNOSTICSADMITTED THAT SOME PATIENTS MANOW EXPERIENCE WAIT TIMES OF UPTO TWO WEEKS FOR RESULTS.THE COMPANY GET THE GREEN LIGH-- IS GETTING THE GREEN LIGHT TOSTART POOLED TESTING, WHICH THEYHOPE WILL DECREASE DELAYS.IN A STATEMENT YESTERDAY, STATELEADERS TOLD "THE BOSTON GLOBE"THE AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME FORMASSACHUSETTS TESTS IS 2.2 DAYS.BUT ADDED THAT THE STATE ISCLOSELY MONITO