Leading Lab Organizations Ask White House to Resolve COVID-19 Testing Supplies Shortages

COVID-19 lab testing supplies have been a bottleneck from the moment the public health emergency began. But what’s less well understood is that the supplies problems stem not just from the lack of volume but also transparency with regard to allocation. With that in mind, a group of leading lab organizations have appealed directly to the Vice President of the U.S. for help. The Letter to Pence The Oct. 6 letter to Vice-President Mike Pence asking for the White House to play a more active role in promoting transparency on the allocation of COVID-19 testing supplies was signed by six organizations representing lab professionals from across the country, including: The American Association of Bioanalysts; The American Association for Clinical Chemistry; American Medical Technologists; The American Society for Microbiology; The Association for Molecular Pathology; and The National Independent Laboratory Association. The organizations also directed copies of the letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, White House Coronavirus Response Co-ordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and White House Coronavirus Testing Co-ordinator Dr. Brett Giroir. Testing Supplies Challenges The letter’s signatories provide SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, antibody, and antigen testing using a variety of platforms. These tests, the letter stated, require supplies that are currently in severe shortage,…