CDC Testing Pause Shifts Responsibility to Clinical Labs

In April 2026, the CDC temporarily paused diagnostic testing for more than two dozen infectious diseases—including rabies, poxviruses, certain parasites, and other specialized assays—describing the move as part of a “routine review” to ensure laboratory quality. In response, state and commercial laboratories are stepping in to absorb testing demand, effectively shifting frontline responsibility for disease detection and monitoring away from the federal government and onto a more decentralized network.