Hospitals and health systems across the United States are preparing mitigation strategies in response to an alert by the manufacturer of a supply shortage of a diagnostic agent, GE Omnipaque contrast media. This contrast media is most commonly utilized for CT scans and cardiac catheterizations.
The shortage occurred after a shutdown of Omnipaque production during a COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, China. Production is back up to 80% currently, and the shortage is projected to be resolved by the end of June. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the American College of Radiologists have provided resources for mitigating this shortage. Mitigation strategies can be found on the following webpages: