Preparing and Supporting Laboratories Responding to COVID-19
In support of CDC’s COVID-19 pandemic response, the Division of Laboratory Systems continues to work in partnership with clinical and public health laboratories. The division works with colleagues across CDC to ensure the latest Information for Laboratories about Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available and accessible.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) for laboratories, including:
- General Testing and Regulatory Requirements
- Testing Strategies
- Anatomic Pathology
- Specimen Handling
- Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care Testing
- Point-of-Care Testing Training Resources
- Interim Guidelines for Rapid Antigen Testing for COVID-19
- Interim Guidance for Use of Pooling Procedures in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic, Screening, and Surveillance Testing
- LOINC In Vitro Diagnostic (LIVD) Test Code Mapping for SARS-CoV-2 Tests
- Free Educational Materials for Public Health and Clinical Laboratories
- Tools and Resources
- Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for COVID-19
- Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- How to Report COVID-19 Laboratory Data
- Connect with CDC’s Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS)
- Get participant info and more for CDC’s regular LOCS calls
Laboratory managers, laboratory professionals, and healthcare workers can keep skills relevant to working with COVID-19 patients, samples, and contexts up-to-date with these free online training courses. Each course offers professional credits, such as P.A.C.E.®
- Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods: What the Laboratory Staff Must Know
- Ready? Set? Test! Patient Testing is Important. Get the Right Results
- Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet
- LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition
- Fundamentals of Chemical Fume Hood Safety
- Fundamentals of Centrifuge Safety
- Fundamentals of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Clinical Laboratories
- Laboratory Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning Course
- Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen
- Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result
- Basic Molecular Biology Module 1: Basic Science
- Basic Molecular Biology Module 3: Nucleic Acid Extraction
- Basic Molecular Biology Module 2: Laboratory Practice
- Basic Molecular Biology Module 4: PCR and Real-Time PCR
Please email DLSInquiries@cdc.gov and use “Laboratory Preparedness and Response” in the subject line.