Reader On-Costs

I would like to start a discussion on the on-cost of using a reader based test in medium to high usage situations. Reason being that the cost of a reader is seen as a disadvantage to the use of our platform.

My basic question is "is it"?

For example if a reader costs $4000 (?) and has a useful life span of 10,000 (?) tests, that equates to 40c per test.

Medium to high usage (say) minimum of 20 tests per day per reader would give a life span of 500 days per reader.

Just think of the number of high usage settings
where reader based tests could be used - health care settings (hospitals, aged care, medical surgeries, chemists, etc); education; suitable sporting & entertainment events; medium to large businesses; high usage public places in general & etc, etc..

Widespread usage in such scenarios would greatly reduce the need for the much inferior home tests, both in terms of their efficacy and integrity of usage.

All for an on-cost of 40c (?) per test. (To me) the advantages of a reader based RAT over both PCR and home testing is significant and undeniable.

IMO, over the next few years the required testing density (per head of population) is unpredictable but will wax and wane over time - very risky to rely on the potential need for widespread testing to disappear completely.

Surely, if we have learned anything over the last two years, it is that we must remain vigilant and prepared from hereon in.

Reader based testing is here to stay.