The FDA, CDC and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have started a task force designed to improve fast-paced development and deployment of diagnostic tests in laboratories during public health emergencies.

“It takes a sustained, robust and globally coordinated effort to protect our nation and the global community from various infectious disease threats,” said CDRH director Jeffrey Shuren. “The FDA knows that collaborating with our federal partners to employ our collective expertise, experiences from previous incidents, and resources will better assist in a global response.”

The task force is designed to encourage interagency collaboration when preparing for and responding to public health threats, such as Ebola outbreaks, and will help to point out public health threats and ensure the proper diagnostic tests are available.