Summary: ARUP Laboratories has been selected by the CDC to develop a rapid-response test for H5N1, addressing the ongoing public health crises.
Takeaways:
- The partnership allows ARUP Laboratories to collaborate with the CDC on developing testing solutions proactively, enabling quicker deployment during future public health emergencies.
- ARUP’s selection highlights its dedication to advancing clinical testing for emerging infectious diseases.
- The announcement follows the first U.S. case of bird flu in a human with no known contact with animals or poultry, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing monitoring and test development.
ARUP Laboratories has been selected by the CDC as a formal partner in the development of a test for avian influenza A (H5N1), or bird flu, the CDC said during a media briefing on Thursday. ARUP is one of five lab partners, with the others being Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, Aegis Sciences, and Ginkgo Bioworks.
“Our selection for this partnership recognizes ARUP’s 40-year history of quality test development, our commitment to innovation, and our commitment to meeting public health needs,” says Jonathan Genzen, MD, PhD, MBA, ARUP’s chief medical officer and senior director of governmental affairs.
CDC Partnership
The partnership marks a shift for the CDC in that it enables ARUP and other commercial labs to work on testing solutions alongside the agency, rather than once a public health emergency arises, to make a test for bird flu available quickly if it is needed.
“ARUP wants to be a fully integrated partner in the delivery of public health services and clinical laboratory testing, and this contract opens doors for both,” says Marc Couturier, PhD, ARUP’s head of clinical operations for Clinical Microbiology and Immunology and medical director of Emerging Public Health Crisis, Parasitology/Fecal Testing, and Infectious Disease Antigen Testing.
Further reading: Diagnostic Testing Is First Line of Defense Against H5N1
Instances of Bird Flu
The announcement came shortly after an individual in Missouri, who had no known contact with animals or poultry, became infected with an H5 virus, according to ARUP. This is the first time a human has tested positive for H5 without a known source of the virus. Both the CDC and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services continue to investigate. The individual, who has since recovered, had underlying health conditions, according to the CDC.
A total of 15 human cases of bird flu have been identified in the United States since 2022. The CDC reports that 14 of those cases have been identified since April 2023. ARUP has been monitoring the spread of bird flu and began engaging in talks with the CDC more than a year ago.
“The new contract formalizes ARUP’s relationship with the CDC, and there will be more opportunities for us to engage with them. We continue to expand our capabilities to address public health crises and are prepared to scale up testing for H5N1, or develop other tests quickly, should the need arise,” says Benjamin Bradley, MD, PhD, medical director of the ARUP Institute for Research and Innovation in Infectious Disease Genomic Technologies, High Consequence Pathogen Response, Virology, and Molecular Infectious Diseases.
ARUP is committed to patient care, and investments in emerging infectious disease testing are one way the company demonstrates its dedication, says Bradley.
