HHS Launches Forum to Address Virus Testing Shortages, Delays

The HHS is creating a forum to get input from private companies, laboratories, researchers, and other groups on how the federal government can improve Covid-19 testing, the department announced Tuesday.

The National Testing Implementation Forum is aimed at helping the Department of Health and Human Services increase lab capacity, implement a surveillance strategy for the virus, find new testing technologies, and identify barriers to a national testing reporting system.

Covid-19 cases are spiking in many areas and testing capacity is still a critical issue, with turnaround times of 10 or more days from major companies like LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics. ...