Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Response to the Monkeypox Outbreak — Laboratory Response Network, United States, May 17–June 30, 2022

• DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7128e1
• Publication Date: 2022-07-08T14:44:35Z
• Authors: Tricia A. Aden; Patricia Blevins; Shannon Whitman York; Stacy Rager; Devika Balachandran; Christina L. Hutson; David Lowe; Chris N. Mangal; Tyler Wolford; Audrey Matheny; Whitni Davidson; Kimberly Wilkins; Rachael Cook; Rebecca M. Roulo; Michael K. White; LaShondra Berman; Janna Murray; John Laurance; Drew Francis; Nicole M. Green; Ricardo A. Berumen; Anthony Gonzalez; Stacy Evans; Meghan Hudziec; Diane Noel; Michael Adjei; Gregory Hovan; Phil Lee; Lisa Tate; Remedios B. Gose; Robert Voermans; Jennifer Crew; Phillip R. Adam; Danielle Haydel; Salimatu Lukula; Nick Matluk; Sandip Shah; Joshua Featherston; Daphne Ware; Denise Pettit; Emily McCutchen; Edward Acheampong; Erin Buttery; Andrew Gorzalski; Michael Perry; Randal Fowler; Robert B. Lee; Robert Nickla; Richard Huard; Amanda Moore; Katie Jones; Renee Johnson; Erin Swaney; Juan Jaramillo; Cynthia Reinoso Webb; Brandon Guin; Janine Yost; Annette Atkinson; Latoya Griffin-Th...; Jessica Chenette; Jessica Gant; Alana Sterkel; Harjinder K. Ghuman; James Lute; Sandra C. Smole; Vaneet Arora; Courtney K. Demon...; Meilan Bielby; Evelyn Geeter; Kimberly A. M. Ne...; Mark Glazier; Whitney Lutkemeier; Megan Nelson; Raymond Martinez; Jasmine Chaitram; Margaret A. Honein; Julie M. Villanueva
• Keywords: Monkeypox; Orthopoxvirus; Biodefense; Variola virus

As part of public health preparedness for infectious disease threats, CDC collaborates with other U.S. officials to ensure that the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) has diagnostic tools detect Orthopoxviruses, genus includes Variola virus, causative agent smallpox. LRN is a network state and local health, federal, Department Defense (DOD), veterinary, food, environmental testing laboratories. developed, Food Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) clearance* Non-variola Orthopoxvirus Real-time PCR Primer Probe Set (non-variola [NVO] assay), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test NVO. On May 17, 2022, was contacted by Massachusetts Public Health (DPH) regarding suspected case monkeypox, caused Monkeypox virus. Specimens were collected tested DPH laboratory capability using NVO assay. Nationwide, 68 laboratories had capacity approximately 8,000 tests per week during June. During 17-June 30, 2,009 specimens from monkeypox cases. Among those, 730 (36.3%) 395 patients positive NVO-positive 159 persons confirmed be monkeypox; final characterization pending 236. Prompt identification infection allowed rapid response outbreak, including isolation treatment patients, administration vaccines, action. To further facilitate access increase convenience providers existing provider-laboratory relationships, are supporting five large commercial national footprint (Aegis Science, LabCorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics, Sonic Healthcare) establish 10,000 laboratory. July 6, first began accepting based on clinician orders.