The FDA today announced new shortages of laboratory testing supplies needed for the COVID-19 pandemic and renewed its shortage listing for several types of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Newly categorized as being in short supply are micro-pipettes and what the agency described as general-purpose lab equipment. The FDA renewed its listing of shortages for the following items, first listed in August:

• Latex, vinyl and nitrile examination gloves.
• Examination, surgical and non-surgical gowns.
• Surgical masks and respirators.
• Lab testing reagents.
• Clinical sample concentrators.
• Instrumentation for clinical multiplex test systems.
• Real-time nucleic acid amplification systems.
• Absorbent tipped applicators.
• Transport culture media.’
• Microbial nucleic acid storage and stabilization devices.
• Specimen collection and transport devices.
• Ventilators for hospital and home use.

Although previous reports have said that the federal government has numerous ventilators in its Strategic National Stockpile, the FDA says on its website that its “determination of whether there is adequate supply to meet demand for a specific device category does not take into account the quantity of supplies accrued” in the stockpile.

The agency cited increased demand for each device on its list as its reason for the shortages.