Trump Administration Urged to Prioritize COVID-19 Testing

Concerned that the demand on clinical laboratories for coronavirus testing is outpacing test capacity, ASCP, the AMA and several other medical associations are urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to revise its testing guidelines. Due to shortages of reagents, viral transport media, plastics (such as a pipette tips) and other items essential to providing both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 testing, ASCP is asking that COVID-19 diagnostic testing be prioritized for those with the greatest need and also to better ensure our ability to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In a joint letter, ASCP, the AMA and others urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to “consider updating testing prioritization guidelines to ensure that the limited testing resources available are directed at those with a medically-indicated need for tests and those identified by well-defined public health surveillance efforts.” The letter was sent, in part, as a follow-up to a recent leadership call ASCP had with HHS on testing supply shortages.

In the letter, ASCP also stated that “updated guidelines are critical to manage the ever-increasing demand for COVID-19 testing, as it has been made clear that, despite the best efforts of many, no additional manufacturing capacity for many testing supplies is likely to be available through the remainder of this year. Updated guidelines will also allow physicians and laboratories to better manage the surging demand for non-medically indicated tests, as the current capacity will not be able to meet all demands.”

The increased demand for testing from those with no medically indicated need for testing services is affecting the ability of physicians and other providers to provide timely medical care and provide patient access to certain elective medical procedures.

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For more information regarding ASCP's advocacy initiatives and policy positions, please contact ASCP's Center for Public Policy at (202) 408-1110.  

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