NILA is one of nine parties to new CDC Memorandum of Understanding

NILA has joined with eight parties to a new CDC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Diagnostic Surge Testing Capacity for Public Health Emergencies (PHEs). Parties to the MOU agree to collaborate on enhancing laboratory testing surge capacity outside of CDC and public health laboratories before and during PHEs.

The parties will work cooperatively, and each one will also have specific roles and responsibilities. NILA’s roles and responsibilities include:

• Serve as a communications hub, facilitating linkages between its laboratory members and the MOU Parties.
• Identify, help develop, and disseminate guidance among its membership on biosafety and training necessities, utilizing experts within its membership.
• Participate in and help develop training for future public health emergencies, calling upon experts in its membership who have served in a variety of roles within clinical laboratories, public health laboratories, and academic health settings.
• Assist in identifying and engaging private sector laboratories to provide testing capacity for public health emergencies or an emerging pathogen outbreak with pandemic potential.

CDC Memorandum of Understanding (pdf)

Parties to the MOU include:

• National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA)
• Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
• American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA)
• Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP)
• Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)
• College of American Pathologists (CAP)
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services/Division of Laboratory Systems (CDC/CSELS/DLS)