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On July 17, 2024, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Desk Reference Graphic describing the procedure for collecting, storing and transporting conjunctival specimens for influenza A(H5) testing of patients with conjunctivitis and suspected infection. For patients who are only presenting with conjunctivitis, CDC recommends collection of both conjunctival swab and nasopharyngeal…
On July 12, 2024, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated webpages and guidance about working with specimens from patients suspected of having a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). This guidance applies to VHFs caused by infections with filoviruses (orthoebolavirus and orthomarburgviruses), arenaviruses (Lassa, Lujo, Guanarito virus, Sabia virus, Junin virus, Chapare virus…
On May 7, 2024, representatives from various organizations across the nation met in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida for the second Annual Workforce Action Alliance (WAA) Summit. The WAA is an executive-level group focused on identifying a few key initiatives each year to address the laboratory workforce shortage. During one of COLA’s Annual Laboratory Enrichment Forums,…
On June 11, 2024, BD Life Sciences sent a letter to inform BD BACTEC Blood Culture System Users that they may experience intermittent delays in supply of some BD BACTEC blood culture media bottles over the coming months. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working…
On June 25, 2024, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) message about an increased risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the United States in 2024. The CDC is actively implementing several strategies to address the increase in cases of dengue including expanding laboratory capacity to improve laboratory testing approaches. Information about clinical testing guidance for dengue and instructions…
As the healthcare landscape evolves, the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic tests has never been greater. Among these, the D-Dimer test is indispensable for diagnosing and excluding venous thromboembolism (VTE) such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). With growing awareness and technological advancements, the D-Dimer testing market is poised for substantial…
On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the laboratory biosafety guidelines for handling and processing specimens associated with Novel Influenza A viruses webpage to include additional information about risk assessment and mitigation, diagnostic testing, and decontamination and waste management. The risk posed by Novel Influenza A viruses to the public…
On June 6, 2024, the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a temporary exemption for H5 avian influenza viruses from the requirements of the select agent and toxin regulations for a period of three years utilizing the exemption authority under 9 C.F.R. §121.5(f). This exemption replaces all…
On June 3, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial (STLT) public health agencies, has developed a multi-faceted enhanced summer influenza surveillance strategy that will be modified as new information becomes available or the situation changes warranting a revised approach.
