The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has temporarily paused diagnostic testing for more than two dozen infectious diseases as the agency conducts a laboratory evaluation following major workforce reductions.
The suspended testing includes diagnostics for illnesses such as rabies, mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), human herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and varicella zoster, which causes chickenpox and shingles. The CDC said the pause is part of a “routine review” aimed at ensuring high-quality laboratory standards across its testing programs.
Officials indicated that some of the paused services could resume within weeks. In the meantime, the agency said it is working with state and local public health laboratories to maintain access to essential testing capacity where possible.
The decision follows significant staffing losses across the CDC over the past year, including layoffs, retirements, and the expiration of temporary roles. Estimates suggest the agency’s workforce has declined by roughly 20% to 25%, with some specialized teams—such as those handling rabies, malaria, and poxvirus diagnostics—losing about half their personnel.
Public health experts say state laboratories may be able to handle some testing needs during the pause, though capacity varies widely by region. While commercial labs can perform tests for some common infections, specialists warn that interruptions affecting rarer disease diagnostics could slow outbreak detection and response efforts if delays persist.
The CDC has paused testing services in the past, but officials say the current suspension is broader than previous actions. Analysts note that the agency has been reviewing its laboratory programs since 2024 following earlier concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Health authorities emphasized the suspension is temporary, though experts say restoring full testing capacity quickly will be critical to maintaining disease surveillance and public health readiness nationwide.
