High-Quality Parasitic Disease Laboratory Services Are a Priority at the CDC

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2022-04, Vol.106 (6), p.1574-1574
• Main Authors: Purfield, Anne E, Butler, Jay C, Cain, Kevin P, Kuhnert, Wendi, Muehlenbachs, Atis, Parise, Monica, Pirkle, Jim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0235

Purfield reports that high-quality parasitic disease laboratory services are a priority at the CDC. The CDC is unwavering in their commitment to provide the highest quality laboratory diagnostic services for parasitic diseases. They clearly hear, understand, and concur with the concerns expressed in the accompanying editorial and appreciate the challenges the pause in testing for parasitic diseases presents for health-care providers, particularly those treating people at elevated risk for parasitic diseases. The CDC's laboratories must meet and maintain the highest standards of excellence to serve as the nation's premier health protection agency and to maintain the confidence of our citizens, public health experts, and clinical partners. We are working diligently to implement laboratory improvements to ensure we can meet these expectations and continue offering high-quality diagnostic services. Unfortunately, achievement of these improvements has required temporary suspension of some services.