PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Paved the Way for Regulatory Changes to Meet
Testing Demand
• Contacted FDA to seek
enforcement discretion and
proposed solutions to
ensure quality testing and
timely results.
• Encouraged member
laboratories (e.g. New York
State, New York City) to
submit requests to FDA
for an emergency use
authorization (EUA) of
their assays.
Communicated Credible Information at a Rapid Pace
Collaborated with CDC to convene weekly
calls with public health laboratories to
provide timely response information and
facilite communications among public health
laboratories, APHL, CDC, FDA, HHS and CMS.
Issued Lab Alerts, developed a website, and
participated in dozens of media interviews about
public health laboratory testing capabilities.
Strengthened Data Infrastructure
Provided a dedicated technical assistance
team (project manager, vocabulary
terminologist and data integration lead)
to support 57 public health laboratories as
they modify their PHLIP data feed to include
COVID-19 test results.
Held educational webinars on COVID-19
biosafety andl lessons learned, risk assessments
and how to safely and securely handle
respiratory and other specimens from persons
under investigation (PUIs).
Collaborated with Partners to Educate Congressional Staff and
Policy Makers on Funding Needs
Provided informatics guidance and updated
FAQs following the removal of the N3 target,
and worked on creating Viral Transport
Media Protocols and QIAGEN EZ1 Virus 2.0
Kit Use tools for members.
Worked closely with CDC data messaging
leads to develop clear guidance, a
streamlined validation process and a
technical assistance mechanism.
On February 24, APHL, ASTHO,
NACCHO and CSTE sent letters to
Congress requesting emergency
supplemental funding to support
COVID-19 response.
Through its various funding
structures, CDC has provided the
following assistance to state, local,
territorial public health laboratories
and health departments:
• $25 million redirected from internal activities
• $739.8 million from the Coronavirus Preparedness and
Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 through the
Public Health Crisis Response Cooperative Agreement
• $641 million through the Epidemiology and Laboratory
Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious
Diseases Cooperative Agreement (ELC)
• $10.25 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program and
Health Care Enhancement Act through the ELC to develop,
purchase, administer, process and analyze COVID-19 tests,
conduct surveillance, trace contacts and other related
activities.
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
APHL.org
Spring 2020 LAB MATTERS 25