The Duke University School of Medicine has temporarily suspended operations at an anatomy training lab after 13 cadavers tested positive for pathogens between 2019 and 2023, in violation of procedures. The school reported low risk to workers due to the use of personal protective equipment and no known infections, but is testing approximately 700 people who may have worked in the lab for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis, and HIV. The lab will reopen once safety protocols are assured.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to overhaul its lab operations after the flawed diagnostic test for Covid-19 hindered national efforts to contain the virus. An independent panel identified problems within the CDC's laboratories, including a lack of unified leadership, insufficient planning and quality control systems, and ineffective governance. The panel made recommendations for improvement, such as consolidating lab operations, separating research labs from clinical labs, and involving independent experts in test development. The CDC has begun implementing some of these suggestions, but funding and a culture change within the agency may pose challenges. Failure to make necessary changes could erode trust in the CDC and impact the nation's preparedness for future public health threats.
