CDC Pauses Dozens of Lab Tests Amid Evaluation and Downsizing

The federal agency cites a 'routine review' as it temporarily halts diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox, and other infectious diseases.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:35pm

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has paused more than two dozen types of diagnostic testing, including for rabies, monkeypox, and other infectious diseases. The agency cited a 'routine review' and attributed the pause to staffing issues following a 20-25% downsizing over the past year through layoffs, retirements, and resignations.

Why it matters

The CDC's laboratory operations were previously faulted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the agency has been evaluating its testing procedures since 2024. The pause in testing raises concerns about the CDC's ability to effectively monitor and respond to public health threats, especially as some specialized state labs may not have the capacity to fully pick up the slack.

The details

The CDC has posted a list of over two dozen types of testing that have become unavailable, including for common infections like Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, as well as more exotic agents like parasitic worms and 'sloth fever' virus. While some state labs can supplement the paused CDC tests, the staffing shortages across the agency's laboratories have significantly impacted its diagnostic capabilities.

  • The CDC posted the list of paused tests this week.
  • The agency has been evaluating its testing procedures since 2024.
  • The CDC experienced a 20-25% downsizing of staff over the past year.

The players

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The federal government's disease-tracking agency that has paused dozens of types of diagnostic testing, citing a 'routine review' and staffing issues following a significant downsizing.

Scott Becker

The chief executive officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, who stated that the pause in testing is 'concerning' if it becomes permanent.

Andrew Nixon

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, who called the pause in testing 'temporary' and said the agency stands ready to support state and local partners.

National Public Health Coalition

An organization of former and current CDC workers that formed in the wake of the agency's downsizing, which reported that the poxvirus, rabies, and malaria labs lost about half their prior staff.

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What they’re saying

“We anticipate some of these tests will be available through CDC labs again in the coming weeks. In the meantime, CDC stands ready to support our state and local partners to access the public health testing they need.”

— Andrew Nixon, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman

“This is not the first time the CDC has paused some of its lab testing. But it is pausing more kinds of tests than ever before, and it is not totally clear why.”

— Scott Becker, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Public Health Laboratories

What’s next

The CDC has stated the pause in testing is temporary, and the agency expects some of the paused tests to be available again in the coming weeks. However, the long-term impacts of the staffing shortages across the CDC's laboratories remain to be seen.

The takeaway

The CDC's decision to pause dozens of diagnostic tests, including for critical infectious diseases, raises serious concerns about the agency's capacity to effectively monitor and respond to public health threats, especially as it continues to grapple with the fallout from significant staffing reductions over the past year.