PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. healthcare system that has been under siege for the last two years was dealt another blow when federal health regulators sounded the alarm on a shortage of contrast dye needed for important imaging procedure.
The FDA announced a global shortage of contrast materials that it blamed on COVID-19 shutdowns in Shanghai, China, a major exporter of the medial dye.
Hospitals are now being forced to make tough decisions to stretch their dwindling supplies. Contrast dye is used for several imaging procedures such as CAT Scans, MRIs, X-Rays, and ultrasounds.
The dye helps give doctors a clearer image to see abnormal conditions in a person's body.Diane Gardner, a 73-year-old Delaware County woman, said her doctor ordered a CAT scan to diagnose a blood clot issue.