New test supports public health preparedness
efforts and testing infrastructure amid multistate outbreak of H5
bird flu in poultry and dairy cows
BURLINGTON, N.C., Dec. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a
global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services,
announced today the commercial availability of its new H5 bird flu
molecular test to aid in the diagnosis of human infection with H5
bird flu. The test is available in the
United States to physicians to order for patients suspected
of infection with the H5N1 virus.*
The test launch comes amid a multistate outbreak of H5 bird flu
in poultry and dairy cows, with several recent human cases in U.S.
dairy and poultry workers. While the current public health risk
remains low, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) is monitoring human cases carefully, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is facilitating comprehensive surveillance of
the nation's milk supply and dairy herds, and Labcorp's test can be
used to evaluate potential human exposure.
Labcorp developed this commercially available test with support
from the CDC to increase access and testing capacity to support
public health preparedness strategies.
"As we continue to monitor developments related to the H5N1
virus, Labcorp is dedicated to equipping healthcare providers with
the critical diagnostic tools they need to address emerging
infectious disease threats," said Marcia
Eisenberg, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Labcorp. "By
leveraging Labcorp's scientific expertise and extensive testing
capacity, we are contributing to a proactive public health
preparedness strategy, putting testing resources and infrastructure
in place to detect and respond to human cases of H5 bird flu."
Healthcare providers suspecting patients of H5 bird flu
infection can collect a nasopharyngeal swab specimen at the point
of care and submit it to Labcorp for analysis. Labcorp's test uses
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and a specific reagent
validated to determine the presence of the H5 virus genetic
material. Results are reported to the patient and physician.
Labcorp's collaboration with the CDC on the H5 bird flu test is
the latest in a series of collaborations that have provided testing
infrastructure and capacity for emerging viruses that cause
infectious diseases in humans, including Zika, SARS-CoV-2
(COVID-19) and mpox.
To learn more, visit
https://www.labcorp.com/tests/140046/influenza-a-and-influenza-b-with-reflex-to-h5-subtyping-naa.
*Test not yet available in New York
State.
About Labcorp
Labcorp (NYSE: LH) is a global
leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services that
helps doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and
patients make clear and confident decisions. We provide insights
and advance science to improve health and improve lives through our
unparalleled diagnostics and drug development laboratory
capabilities. The company's more than 67,000 employees serve
clients in approximately 100 countries, provided support for 84% of
the new drugs and therapeutic products approved in 2023 by the FDA,
and performed more than 600 million tests for patients around the
world. Learn more about us at www.labcorp.com.
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SOURCE Labcorp