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COVID-19 General Resources and Updates

Find COVID-19 guidance, as well as relevant news and updates.

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Help ASCP capture and document the vital contributions pathologists and laboratory professionals are making towards patient care during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Submit your story as a part of our "COVID-19: Medical Diagnostic Team" initiative.


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General Resources

ASCP National Diagnostic Testing and Support Strategy 

CDC COVID-19 Information for Laboratories webpage – Features interim guidance and resources for laboratory professionals working with specimens from persons under investigation for COVID-19, including link to the Serology Testing for COVID-19 webpage

CDC Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) webpage – Links to recent LOCS communications relating to COVID-19

CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage - Includes link to the Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19 webpage

CDC Guidance on Postmortem Specimen Collection From Deceased Persons with Known or Suspected COVID-19

CDC COVID Data Tracker – Features laboratory testing data that detail specimens tested and reported by U.S. laboratories, including commercial and reference, public health, and hospital laboratories. 

FDA COVID-19 webpage – Includes Policy for Diagnostic Tests for Coronavirus Disease-2019 During the Public Health Emergency and FAQs on Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2

FDA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) In Vitro Diagnostics Emergency Use Authorizations 

CMS Current Emergencies webpage – Includes billing and coding guidance

WHO COVID-19 webpage - Includes situation reports and Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan

WHO EPI-WIN (Information Network for Epidemics)

The Joint Commission COVID-19 webpage - Includes a section specific to laboratory services

Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard

ASCP Virtual Town Hall Series - Addresses the main concerns affecting the laboratory team during this crisis

Pathologists Overseas COVID Testing Dashboard

UW Medicine COVID-19 Resource Site

COVIDPlasma.org - Includes information on the rapidly evolving therapy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma

Jennifer Kasten, MD, MSc, MSc, FASCP, Facebook page - Ongoing analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic provided by Dr. Kasten via her Facebook page


Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Resources for Phlebotomists, Laboratory Teams, and Pathologists

CDC COVID-19 Infection Control and PPE Guidelines

CDC COVID-19 Healthcare Professionals: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers – Includes information related to transmission and waste management.

SHEA (The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America) COVID-19 FAQ – Includes information regarding how a person under investigation for COVID-19 should be managed, specifically as it relates to phlebotomy and the laboratory.

Joint Commission Statement on Use of Face Masks Brought From Home

Joint Commission Leading Hospital Improvement blog post "Shortages of Personal Protective Equipment in the COVID-19 Pandemic" 

Joint Commission On Infection Prevention & Control blog post "Managing Critical Shortages of Personal Protective Equipment"

Featured Events

FDA Virtual Town Hall Series - Immediately in Effect Guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Diagnostic Tests August 12, 2020, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. ET (virtual event)
Additional dates include August 19, and 26.

ASCP Virtual Town Hall Series
Find recordings of past ASCP Virtual Town Halls here.

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls (virtual events, on-demand recordings)

Featured News and Updates

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: Update on COVID-19 Laboratory Reporting Requirements (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Update)

CDC LOCS Lab Update: FDA Issues COVID-19 Testing and Policy Updates (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Update)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: CDC Releases New Test Pooling Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: Updated LOINC In-Vitro Diagnostic (LIVD) Test Code Mapping for SARS-CoV-2 Test Results (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Issues First Emergency Authorization for Sample Pooling in Diagnostic Testing (FDA news release)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: FDA Amends Instructions for Use of CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Update: FDA Updates Frequently Asked Questions about Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Update)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: CDC Publishes New General Laboratory Safety Guidance (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: CDC Multiplex Assay Receives Authorization from FDA (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Alert: DOT Issues Safety Notice for Transportation of COVID-19 Diagnostic Samples (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Alert)

CDC LOCS Lab Update: FDA and CMS Update on Pooling for Diagnostic and Surveillance Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Update)

Experts Identify Steps to Expand and Improve Antibody Tests in COVID-19 Response (NIH press release)

NYC Public Health Laboratory Seeking Laboratory Staff (job opportunity) - NYC’s Public Health Laboratory is seeking to fill a number of key laboratory positions to help it increase its COVID-19 testing capacity. Individuals interested in these employment opportunities can use the city’s application portal and type in “PHL” (MUST BE ALL CAPS) to access the public health laboratory positions. Interested applicants are encouraged to email recruit@health.nyc.gov to alert the recruiting office to help expedite and coordinate the hiring process.

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: CDC Updates Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines and Questions & Answers (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: FDA Posts Information from Independent Evaluations of COVID-19 Serological Tests (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: HHS Issues New CARES Act Guidance (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

HHS Announces New Laboratory Data Reporting Guidance for COVID-19 Testing (press release)

Proteins in COVID-19 Patients' Blood Could Predict Severity of Illness, Study Finds Reuters (news article)

CDC LOCS Lab Alert: Molecular Transport Media (MTM) and Cyanide Gas (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Alert)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: CDC Releases Interim Guidance for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Antibody Testing (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Provides Promised Transparency for Antibody Tests (FDA news release)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: New COVID-19 Data Tracker Website for Laboratories (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

COVID-19: Modified Ordering Requirements for Laboratory Billing (MLN Connects - Official CMS News from the Medicare Learning Network® (MLN))

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: Updated LOINC In Vitro Diagnostic (LIVD) Test Code Mapping for SARS-CoV-2 Test Results (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

CDC LOCS Lab Advisory: CDC Posts New Information about Serology Testing for COVID-19 (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

Lab Advisory: New LOINC In-Vitro Diagnostic (LIVD) Test Code Mapping for SARS-CoV-2 Test Results (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

Antibody Test Oversight and Use for COVID-19  (FDA Fact Sheet)

Insight into FDA’s Revised Policy on Antibody Tests: Prioritizing Access and Accuracy (FDA Voices - Perspectives From FDA Leadership and Experts)

Lab Advisory: CMS Issues Additional Guidance on SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Testing (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Advisory)

American Society for Clinical Pathology Urges Creation of National Pandemic Testing Task Force (ASCP News)

ASCP National Test Strategy Included in Legislation Passed by Senate (ASCP News)

The Joint Commission Statement on Universal Masking of Staff, Patients, and Visitors in Health Care Settings

Important Information on the Use of Serological (Antibody) Tests for COVID-19 - Letter to Health Care Providers

Lab Update: COVID-19 Laboratory Testing and Reporting Q&As and Specimen Collection Guidance (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Update)

CMS Increases Medicare Payment for High-Production Coronavirus Lab Tests (press release)

NIH Study Validates Decontamination Methods for Re-use of N95 Respirators

The American Society for Clinical Pathology Calls on the Federal Government to Develop a National COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing and Support Strategy (ASCP News)

FDA Clarifies CLIA-waived Status for Point-of-Care SARS-CoV-2 Tests Under Emergency Use Authorizations (CDC LOCS (Laboratory Outreach Communication System) Lab Update)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Provides Updated Guidance to Address the Urgent Need for Blood During the Pandemic (FDA statement) Read an ASCP News story on this topic here.

Joint Commission Statement on Use of Face Masks Brought From Home 

"Shortages of Personal Protective Equipment in the COVID-19 Pandemic" (post from Joint Commission Leading Hospital Improvement blog)

Trump Administration Provides Financial Relief for Medicare Providers (press release)

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory Guidance During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (memorandum)

CMS Open Payments COVID-19 Announcement

CMS Announces Relief for Clinicians, Providers, Hospitals and Facilities Participating in Quality Reporting Programs in Response to COVID-19 (press release)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Provides More Regulatory Relief During Outbreak, Continues to Help Expedite Availability of Diagnostics (FDA statement)

Hologic’s Molecular Test for the Novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization (press release)

Roche’s Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization (press release)

CDC Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) webpage – Links to recent LOCS communications relating to COVID-19

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