Early in the covid pandemic, testing for the virus was tied to central, certified laboratories that quickly became overwhelmed. During peak viral surges, results often arrived too late to give meaningful information about whether someone should quarantine or return to work. And in parts of the world without access to high-tech labs, people had no way to tell if their cough or fatigue was caused by covid or a bad cold . . .
Cover story for MIT Technology Review, April 2022