CDC seeks input on proposal to centralize COVID-19 laboratory test reporting

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would like to partner with one or more organizations to enable centralized reporting from COVID-19 testing entities to public health departments, the agency said this week in a request for information.

“CDC is seeking information from companies and other organizations about their capability, proven past performance, and capacity to leverage a secure and scalable cloud-based platform to accept and transmit testing data from testing entities to relevant state and large local health departments, with a focus on multi-state, large regional, and state-wide reporting entities,” the notice states.

The agency will accept comments on the proposal until 5 p.m. ET Nov. 30.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act requires laboratories that test for COVID-19 or the SARS-CoV-2 virus to report the results to the Department of Health and Human Services. According to guidance issued by HHS in June, laboratories generally should send the data to state or local public health departments using existing reporting channels to ensure case investigations begin rapidly.