CDC issues updated Ebola guidance for U.S. labs

Ebola testing should be conducted only for individuals who meet the criteria for persons under investigation for Ebola Virus Disease, according to updated guidance for clinical laboratories released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “In the hospital setting, where policies and procedures should be in place to safeguard health care workers, consideration of Ebola should not delay diagnostic assessments, laboratory testing and appropriate care for other, more likely medical conditions,” the guidance states. Hospitals should follow state and/or local health department procedures for notifying and consulting about Ebola virus testing requests, and any presumptive positive Ebola test result must be confirmed at the CDC, the agency said. If a hospital chooses to use a commercial Ebola virus test, specimens should also be submitted to a Laboratory Response Network facility or CDC for definitive Ebola virus testing, the guidance states.