[inferiorhuman]

Shouldn't there be hundreds of labs with these machines though?

Yes. Roche just got FDA approval on a SARS-COV-2 test that will take four (4) hours that works with two of their (whatever you call the machine) models. Per Roche there are around 110 of those machines in the United States. Bloomberg had estimated throughput numbers and also indicated that Roche has tests that work with some of their other, slower equipment (that I assume is in the US as well).

Mayo Clinic recently developed a 2 hour test.

The limits on testing are, from my POV, entirely political at this point.

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/815522836/u-s-coronavirus-tes...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-13/roche-get...

[cjhopman]

How does Korea have 15 minute tests (from when a sample is collected) and we're excited about a 2 hour or 4 hour one? I'm not being flippant, I imagine that whatever korea is doing they've been open about it and we know how to do manufacture everything and perform those 15 minute tests, but I imagine there must be some reason that we aren't doing them.

[inferiorhuman]

How does Korea have 15 minute tests

They don't. The drive through stations send samples off to a lab that uses a 5–6 hour process. If memory serves, a Hong Kong company devised a 45 minute test otherwise in most places you're looking at hours not minutes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51836898

[cjhopman]

You're right. I swear I saw some article that said that South Korean drive through would text results as fast as 15 minutes, but looking at a couple more reports just now all said 24 hours.

[hkai]

Also there are blood tests that are dirt cheap and get you the results in 15 mins, but they are only 80% accurate