Monkeypox cases rise to 30 in Georgia, expanded testing now available

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The Atlanta based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday that Labcorp will begin testing for monkeypox using CDC’s orthopoxvirus test.

This test is designed to detect all non-smallpox related orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox.

Labcorp will offer this testing at its largest facility in the United States.

Confirmed monkeypox cases in Georgia rose to 30 on Friday, according to the CDC case count.

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“The ability of commercial labs to test for monkeypox is a key pillar in our comprehensive strategy to combat this disease,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, M.D., M.P.H. “This will not only increase testing capacity but will make it more convenient for providers and patients to access tests by using existing provider-to-lab relationships.”

Labcorp expects to perform up to 10,000 tests per week, which will double the current capacity provided through CDC’s Laboratory Response Network (LRN).

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The CDC shipped the tests to the laboratories and their employees have been trained on their administration, among other steps.

The CDC said anyone with a rash that looks like monkeypox should talk to their healthcare provider about whether or not they need to get tested, even if they don’t think they had contact with someone who has monkeypox.

Healthcare providers, nationwide, can order the orthopoxvirus test from Labcorp, but the public will not be able to go to a Labcorp lab and submit a specimen.

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