A new survey from the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) has found that clinical labs’ robust, rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic helped to contain the virus and save lives. However, the challenges labs faced with insufficient supplies and staffing shortages have only intensified since 2020. The percentage of laboratory professionals reporting staffing issues rose steadily from 35.4% in May 2020 to 87.5% in January 2022—raising questions about whether labs would have the necessary resources to respond to a similar public health emergency today.
Survey highlights how clinical labs’ quick response to COVID-19 helped reduce hospitalizations and save lives
