Trending Now - CDC Suspends Multiple Lab Tests Amid Review and Cuts

WHO:

The Guardian - By July 2026, the rabies team at the CDC will have only one expert capable of providing clinical guidance to state and local officials, while the poxvirus team will have none.

The Guardian - Robert F Kennedy Jr is the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ABC News - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal government's disease-tracking agency.

ABC News - Scott Becker is the chief executive officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

ABC News - Andrew Nixon is a representative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC.

ABC News - The National Public Health Coalition is an organization of former and current CDC workers.

WHAT:

The Guardian - The CDC has released a list showing that more than two dozen types of testing are now unavailable.

The Guardian - The CDC's malaria branch was significantly reduced.

The Guardian - By July 2026, the rabies team at the CDC will have only one expert capable of providing clinical guidance to state and local officials, while the poxvirus team will have none.

The Guardian - The CDC has released a list showing that more than two dozen types of testing are now unavailable.

ABC News - The CDC has posted a list of more than two dozen types of testing that have become unavailable.

AP News - The CDC's laboratory operations were faulted during the COVID-19 pandemic and were the subject of a subsequent work group's review.

AP News - The CDC anticipates that some of the paused tests will be available again in the coming weeks.

ABC News - The CDC is pausing more types of tests than ever before, according to Scott Becker, chief executive officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.

AP News - Some of the paused testing includes common infections for which commercial testing is available, such as Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, as well as testing for exotic agents like parasitic worms responsible for “snail fever” and the virus that causes “sloth fever.”

ABC News - The CDC has paused its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox, and a number of other infectious diseases.

AP News - The CDC posted a list of more than two dozen types of testing that have become unavailable.

AP News - Staffing at the CDC fell by 20% to 25% due to layoffs, retirements, resignations, and the nonrenewal of temporary appointments.

AP News - The poxvirus and rabies labs lost about half their prior staff, and the CDC’s malaria branch was significantly reduced.

WHERE:

ABC News - The CDC is located in the United States, with specific mention of state labs in New York and California that can provide testing support.

WHEN:

The Guardian - The CDC began reviewing its testing programs in late 2024.

ABC News - The CDC has been evaluating its testing since 2024.

ABC News - The announcement regarding the pause in testing was made during the week of April 2nd, 2026.

WHY:

The Guardian - The suspension of lab services follows a period of major workforce reductions at the CDC over the past year, driven by layoffs, hiring freezes, and staff departures.

ABC News - A government spokesman called the pause temporary and attributed it to “a routine review to uphold our commitment to high quality laboratory testing.”

ABC News - Becker noted that there can be other reasons for taking tests offline, including staffing issues.

ABC News - The pause in testing is attributed to “a routine review to uphold our commitment to high quality laboratory testing,” according to a government spokesman.

AP News - The downsizing of the CDC and staffing issues are contributing factors to the pause in testing.

HOW:

The Guardian - The CDC maintains regular communication with state and local health departments and can assist in coordinating testing through alternative laboratories if needed.

ABC News - Some specialized state labs, such as those in New York and California, have the capability to provide testing support while CDC tests are paused.

ABC News - The CDC's laboratory operations were previously faulted during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a review by a work group.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 05:30 UTC)

The CDC has announced that by July 20th26, it will have only one expert available to provide clinical guidance on rabies, while its poxvirus team will have no experts at all, following significant workforce reductions over the past year. Additionally, the agency has released a list indicating that more than two dozen types of testing are currently unavailable, and its malaria branch has been notably diminished. Despite these challenges, the CDC continues to communicate regularly with state and local health departments and can help coordinate testing through alternative laboratories if necessary.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 23:08 UTC)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. By July 20th26, the CDC will have only one expert available for clinical guidance on rabies, and none for poxvirus, while more than two dozen types of testing have become unavailable due to a review of testing programs that began in late 2024. This suspension of lab services follows significant workforce reductions at the CDC over the past year, but the agency continues to communicate with state and local health departments to coordinate testing through alternative laboratories if necessary.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 15:18 UTC)

The CDC has announced that more than two dozen types of testing have become unavailable as part of a temporary pause, which a government spokesman attributed to a routine review aimed at maintaining high-quality laboratory testing. This decision follows criticism of the CDC's laboratory operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were reviewed by a work group. However, the agency anticipates that some of the paused tests will be back in operation in the coming weeks.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 13:21 UTC)

The CDC is pausing more types of tests than ever before, according to Scott Becker, the CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. This includes common infections like Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, as well as tests for exotic agents such as parasitic worms and the virus responsible for sloth fever, with staffing issues cited as a potential reason for the pause. While the CDC's testing is on hold, some specialized state labs in New York and California are still able to provide testing support.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 07:21 UTC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a pause in its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox, and several other infectious diseases, as part of a routine review aimed at maintaining high-quality laboratory testing. This decision comes amid significant staffing reductions, with the CDC losing 20% to 25% of its workforce due to layoffs and resignations, which has particularly impacted its poxvirus, rabies, and malaria labs. While testing has been suspended, state labs in New York and California are still available to provide support during this evaluation period.