NORTHFIELD, Ill. – The College of American Pathologists (CAP) hosted today a virtual forum addressing the Rapidly Changing COVID-19 Testing Landscape, the third in a series of ongoing media briefings which will continue into 2021.
“Testing continues to be a critical factor as the country navigates the pandemic and as we are now approaching the use of a vaccine,” says CAP President Patrick Godbey, MD, FCAP, laboratory director, Southeastern Pathology Associates and Southeast Georgia Health System who moderated the event. “The demands on our members and laboratories have never been higher and we expect this increase to continue through the holidays and months to come. Ensuring we have ramped up, are meeting challenges, and ensuring access to quality patient care remains our priority. Today’s discussion provided an opportunity to address all of these issues as we look ahead.”
To review the full briefing program here:
Presenters included:
- Amy Karger, MD, PhD, FCAP, associate professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Advanced Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (ARDL) faculty investigator, University of Minnesota; Point-of-Care Testing medical director, MHealth Fairview; chair, CAP Point-of-Care Testing Committee; and,
- Christina M. Wojewoda, MD, FCAP, director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington; associate professor, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine; vice chair, CAP Microbiology Committee
Drs. Godbey, Karger and Wojewoda are available for interview.
The full briefing agenda included the following highlights:
- What is working and not working with testing and how partnerships with community and departments of health are providing additional testing access in both urban and rural environments.
- The impact of the FDA’s EUA-approved dual COVID-19 and Flu testing, and how there have been less reported cases of the flu due to mask wearing and social distancing.
- The role of pathologists on the frontlines of testing and what effect the new vaccine may have including potential antibody testing post-vaccine and how laboratories are preparing for this
- Ongoing supply chain issues and how the CAP plans to work with the new administration in addressing those challenges
- The reliability of upcoming at-home and point-of-care tests and how that may change testing with one at home test having received FDA EUA approval in limited availability now and greater distribution this coming spring
- Anticipated 2021 CMS penalties if tests are not turned around in two days and what that means for access to and quality of patient care – particularly in rural environments
- The road ahead and what we have learned from this public health crisis on the testing front
“It is vital for us to continue this dialogue as we determine the roadmap for testing. Pathologists work collaboratively with other medical and healthcare professionals to make important testing decisions from what type of test to administer to how those results are understood,” says Dr. Godbey. “We look forward to providing ongoing education through these virtual events and addressing the most urgent topics moving into the new year.”
About the College of American Pathologists (CAP)
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists with almost 18,000 members and as the leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the CAP serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. Ninety-eight percent of the top 1,000 laboratories in the U.S. are CAP accredited. Pathologists oversee and provide laboratory testing and diagnose viruses, chronic diseases, cancers and other health conditions. For more information, visit yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care. Visit www.cap.org
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