The College of American Pathologists (CAP) released a letter on January 27 detailing how the Biden administration can better combat the COVID-19 pandemic from the pathologists' perspective.
Major problems exist in the diagnostic testing process, whether it's obtaining testing supplies, continued access to services, or the financial effect on laboratories. CAP encourages the federal government to improve transparency, coordination, and management of testing supplies along with covering multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respiratory viral panel (RVP) tests.
Doing so would help labs differentiate between influenza, coronavirus, rhinoviruses, and many other pathogens, which would support patient triaging.
The letter also discusses the new administration's public health efforts, healthcare disparities, and global health security. The CAP applauds the COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force and the mission to target vulnerable communities and seek to ensure equal access to testing.
