Bringing the Value of Diagnostics to Life on Capitol Hill

IDSA Diagnostics Committee Chair, Kimberly Hanson, MD

During a recent congressional briefing, “The Essential Role of Diagnostics in Outbreak Detection and Response,” IDSA Diagnostics Committee Chair Kimberly Hanson, MD, shared her laboratory’s case of a Zika index patient and how various types of diagnostic testing contributed to diagnosis and treatment. The briefing was co-sponsored by IDSA, AdvaMedDx, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Association for Public Health Laboratories. Other speakers and topics included:

• Gregory Armstrong, MD, discussed his work as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) office of Advanced Molecular Detection and reviewed genomic sequencing technologies and applications;
• Joanne Bartkus, PhD, MS, Minnesota Public Health Laboratory Director and APHL President, provided an overview of the role of the public health laboratory in outbreak detection and response;
• Alan Wright, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Roche Diagnostics Corp., discussed industry considerations for diagnostics development, the current test landscape, and future trends.

Nearly 100 congressional staffers attended the briefing. AdvaMedDx executive director Susan Van Meter concluded the event by reemphasizing the importance of rapid diagnostics for public health and urging Congress to support research and development (R&D) for testing to promote wellness, improve patient outcomes, and advance public health in the United States and abroad.

IDSA will continue to work with Congress and federal agencies to ensure appropriate regulatory, reimbursement, and R&D considerations for promoting innovation in high-quality ID patient care.