Guidance for COVID-19 Testing for CAP-Accredited Laboratories

Communication Date: March, 2020
NOTE: The information below was current at the time of communication. Subsequent CAP changes, if applicable, are not reflected in this eAlert.

SARS-CoV-2 (formerly 2019-nCoV) is a recently identified coronavirus that causes human respiratory illness that can be severe. COVID-19 is the term used for illness caused by the virus. For purposes of this document, COVID- 19 and SARS-CoV-2 are synonymous.

The CAP is providing the following guidance for CAP-accredited laboratories to ensure availability of reliable testing for rapid detection of the agent that causes COVID-19.

Refer to the CAP’s COVID Q & A on cap.org for answers to the most commonly asked questions

CAP-accredited laboratories can obtain EUA kits from authorized manufacturers and verify test performance to perform testing in their own laboratories. To perform testing and report patient test results, a laboratory must: 

1. Ensure that personnel are trained and qualified to perform testing based on the specific level FDA authorization received for the test in the EUA Letter of Authorization.
   • The letters for the different EUA assays can be viewed on the FDA website. 
2. Follow the assay or test system's protocol as authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) without modification.
   • Due to shortages of testing supplies (eg, viral transport media, collection swabs) during the COVID-19 health care emergency, the FDA has provided and continues to update recommendations for other validated alternatives on its website. Laboratories may also validate other alternatives through the performance of a bridging study to show equivalent performance. 
3. Verify test method performance specifications on site following the CAP’s All Common Checklist requirements COM.40300, COM.40475, and COM.40500.
   • Include both positive and negative samples in the study.
   • EUA kits are not considered laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).
4. Update the laboratory’s CAP activity menu in Organization Profile by logging into e-Lab Solutions Suite on cap.org.
   • Detailed information on adding new activities is found in the CAP’s COVID Q & A on cap.org.

Important exceptions allowed during the COVID-19 health care emergency:

• The CAP is temporarily allowing laboratories to accept RNA/DNA extractions submitted for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing from non-accredited sites that are following validated extraction procedures.
• Your laboratory may perform external quality control less frequently than the CLIA default frequency (ie, two levels of QC each day of testing) without an individualized quality control plan (IQCP), as long as the laboratory performs QC at least as frequently as stated in the manufacturer’s package insert..

The FDA issued a revised guidance on March 16, 2020, which offers two different options for accelerating the development of certain laboratory tests for COVID-19.

• The first option involves pursuing EUA from the FDA as described in the FDA guidance released on February 29, 2020 and in the revised guidance. This option allows testing to be performed after completion of the validation, but before the laboratory receives EUA from the FDA. The FDA recommends submitting an EUA request within 15 days after completing the validation.
• The second option allows state authorization of high-complexity, CLIA-certified laboratories to perform tests developed and validated by their laboratory for COVID-19 in their state. If a state chooses to authorize laboratories within its state to develop and perform a test for COVID-19, it does so under the authority of its own State law, and under a process that it establishes. Laboratories developing tests following this path engage directly with the appropriate state authorities, instead of with the FDA. These laboratories are not required to pursue an EUA with the FDA.

The revised FDA guidance also includes new information for commercial manufacturers to expand the nation’s capacity for COVID-19 testing during the public health emergency. The FDA guidance states that it does not intend to object to commercial manufacturers developing and distributing COVID-19 test kits after completion of the manufacturer’s validation of the test for specimen testing prior to the FDA granting an EUA, under certain conditions. The FDA considers 15 days a reasonable period of time to prepare and submit an EUA request.

The revised guidance also includes new information for commercial manufacturers and laboratories developing and using serology tests that identify antibodies (eg, IgM, IgG) to COVID-19 from clinical specimens. These tests are considered less complex than molecular tests and provide more limited information.

Laboratories performing an LDT should refer to the following CAP checklist requirements for validation of LDTs in the All Common Checklist: COM.40350, COM.40500, COM.40850. Additional requirements in the All Common Checklist and Microbiology Checklist apply.

FDA COVID-19 website

FDA EUA website

CAP COVID-19 website

CDC COVID-19 website