AMA and others struggling to perform testing urge HHS to reprioritize COVID-19 guidelines
August 11, 2020 / Mallory Hackett, Associate Editor
Testing shortages continue along with gaps in the supply chain for reagents, swabs, plastics, viral transport media and personal protection equipment, the American Medical Association and other health organizations told Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in a letter sent today.
The letter went out the day after HHS said it had state plans in place to ensure adequate testing and supplies.
It asks the administration to update the testing guidelines to prioritize those with a medically-indicated need for a COVID-19 test, including those with symptoms of the virus, those with known exposure and those in need of pre-procedure testing.
By updating the guidelines, the AMA said it hopes those groups will have access to testing services and timely return of results.
Along with the AMA, the letter was signed by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, American Society for Clinical Pathology, Association for Molecular Pathology, Association of Pathology Chairs, College of American Pathologists and Infectious Diseases Society of America.
