CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S MESSAGE
Public Health Laboratories:
At the Vanguard of COVID-19 Response
A mere six months ago who could have
imagined that public health laboratories
would be at the center of the US response
to a global pandemic? Yet here we are in
2020 with testing for SARS-CoV-2 leading
the news day after day. Public health
leaders, who have tended to view labs
as factories for disease data, have had to
focus on testing as never before. They’ve
even picked up “lab speak,” whipping
out terms like “false positive” and “viral
transport media” as though these words
had always been part of their vernacular.
As we all know, the initial CDC EUA assay
stumbled out of the gate. The faulty EUA
assay left member labs, who understood
the ramifications of delay, in limbo for
weeks. They clamored for federal approval
to develop their own tests, and APHL
spoke up forcefully on their behalf. A
few days later, the regulations changed:
testing could begin for any lab with the
ability to bring up the test.
Then came the chaos of launching COVID
testing at all public health laboratories
at the same time. APHL’s Infectious
Disease and Informatics staff responded
to hundreds of messages from member
labs requesting technical assistance.
Fortunately, the Informatics team had
already created the messaging format
for COVID-19 reporting. Messages would
travel directly to CDC via the PHLIP
feed. We placed a big checkmark next to
“reporting” on our “To Do Now!” list.
However, we could not sit back for a
second. Shortages of reagents, extraction
kits, viral transport media and swabs
occurred nationwide. Shortages at some
labs were so severe that they would be
forced to halt testing if supplies were
not secured by the next day. As late as
early to mid-May, almost one-third of
public health labs did not have adequate
supplies for the next week’s testing.
Notwithstanding, there have been
some bright spots in this response.
The pandemic has placed APHL and its
members under the spotlight as never
before. We have received calls from all
the major news media, from NPR and
the New York Times to John Oliver’s Last
Week Tonight. In interviews, we’ve been
able to explain testing fundamentals
(RT-PCR is not like a home pregnancy
test) and manage public expectations
(testing cannot be done at a snap of the
fingers). What’s more, we have shared this
information with a huge audience. Our
potential reach has been measured at
18 billion.
Under its spotlight, major companies
have found APHL and sought out the
association for advice and support. Apple
and Google wanted to discuss their
new software tool that makes it easier
for jurisdictions to release coronavirus
contact-tracing apps that protect users’
privacy. Amazon wanted to gauge our
interest in its new COVID-19 supply store
for first responders. The store offers
responders hundreds of supplies at cost.
Last, but certainly not least, APHL has
been active on the Hill advocating for
public health laboratory response funding.
Labs will (or have) receive support under
the Coronavirus Preparedness and
Response Supplemental Appropriations
Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the
FY 2021 federal budget, which provides
funding for public health laboratory data
systems. And APHL will continue to push
for resources and protections for those
serving at the lab bench.
I would like to thank all our members who
have demonstrated remarkable strength,
determination and resiliency in this
testing marathon. In my 20 years at APHL,
I have never admired you more. A special
thanks to the deBeaumont Foundation
and the CDC Foundation for their kind
gifts of financial support to APHL. I also
want to thank our federal partners at
CDC, FDA, and HHS and those outside
the government, notably the Council of
State and Territorial Epidemiologists,
Association of State and Territorial Health
Officials, National Association of County
and City Health Officials, and many more
organizations for their support during a
challenging time. Lastly, a very special
thanks to the fantastic APHL staff who
have all come together in this crisis to do
all we can to support our members. n
I would like to thank all our
members who have demonstrated
remarkable strength, determination
and resiliency in this testing
marathon. In my 20 years at APHL,
I have never admired you more.
Scott Becker, MS
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
APHL.org
Spring 2020 LAB MATTERS 3