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COLA is engaged with the CDC’s Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) in the Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) to transmit their public health messages to our COLA laboratories and affiliates. Below are links to recent messages about confirming your LOCS subscription, laboratories performing moderate and high complexity COVID-19 testing, CDC updates on interim guidelines for collecting and handling clinical specimens for COVID-19 testing, and recent Ebola virus outbreaks in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea.
Confirm Your LOCS Subscription
As you may know, the CDC Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) has recently transitioned from Microsoft Outlook to Adobe Campaign so that we can better serve our email subscribers.
If you are receiving these emails (Sender Name is “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”), you do not need to do anything further at this time.
Laboratories Performing Moderate and High Complexity COVID-19 Testing
On February 25, 2021, CDC updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) about Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Laboratories web page. Refer to the “General Guidance and Regulatory Requirements” section of this page to see the new FAQs:
CDC Updates Interim Guidelines for Collecting and Handling Clinical Specimens for COVID-19 Testing
On February 26, 2021, CDC added new guidance on capillary fingerstick specimen collection to the Interim Guidelines for Collecting and Handling Clinical Specimens for COVID-19 Testing web page.
Please share this message with your networks and invite them to opt in to LOCS to receive future updates.
Recent Ebola Virus Outbreaks in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea
Outbreaks of Ebola virus disease are ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea. Although the risk of a travel-associated Ebola case in the United States is low, CDC recommends that clinical laboratories review information on specimen collection and transport and packaging and shipping for Ebola virus. Clinical laboratories should also review their internal risk assessments and biosafety procedures and controls for handling specimens that may contain Ebola virus.
