FEATURE
Detailed information about testing
capacity is essential to know where it
is, how it is being used, and whether it
is sufficient. “This is the first time that
informatics and data exchange and
management have been at the forefront
of discussions,” Meigs said. “It’s brought
to everybody’s attention the need for
good quality data and interconnected
public health data streams.”
Looking Ahead
While daily routines are still upended
by challenging schedules and unstable
supply chains, and laboratories continue
to work multiple shifts to keep up with
a new spike in cases, many laboratories
have carved out some energy for longerrange
planning. Washington has been
applying for both state and federal
funds to help restore some of the
routine testing that has been displaced
by the pandemic, and South Dakota
is diversifying to avoid future supply
chain breakdowns. It now has three
Public health is getting a lot
of support right now. So I think we
need to use that support to plan
for the future and work even
more effectively.”
Megan Crumpler, PhD, HCLD
different testing platforms in place, but
diversification brings its own challenges.
“If any one or even two of those supply
chains becomes fragile again, we can
migrate. For pandemic response, that’s
an advantage. But for normal laboratory
work, it can become a nightmare,”
Southern said. “We have to find long-term
financial means to support this really
well-developed infrastructure.”
In Orange County, Crumpler is working
to leverage support to build out longer
lasting infrastructure. “We’re trying to buy
equipment that’s usable now but will also
be very beneficial for us in the future,” she
said, such as high throughput equipment
for whole genome sequencing, where
she expects her laboratory will play an
important role in the COVID-19 response
moving forward. She also emphasizes
the need to include surge capacity in
planning and budgeting efforts and is
seeking support for a better laboratory
web portal to allow the laboratory to
electronically receive specimens from
outside submitters.
“I’ve been in the public health laboratory
field for 11 years now, and never have
I seen such a focus on laboratory
testing. … People are really taking an
interest in understanding what we’re
doing,” Crumpler said. “Public health is
getting a lot of support right now. So we
need to use that support to plan for the
future and work even more effectively.” •
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Summer 2020 LAB MATTERS 9