Laboratory

All states are strongly encouraged to consider identifying Ebola assessment hospitals; however, in geographic areas where state and local public health authorities have elected not to identify or designate Ebola assessment hospitals, all hospitals should plan, in coordination with state and local authorities, for adequate staff training and PPE supplies if a PUI has to be managed. In this instance, frontline healthcare facilities should have plans in place to safely collect, package, and transport laboratory specimens for PUIs, if needed. If frontline healthcare facilities cannot immediately transfer the patient to another facility, they should also have plans in place to ensure that routine laboratory tests needed to determine alternative diagnoses are performed while the patient is evaluated for EVD.

2019