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July 11 2022
Mayo Clinic is ramping up its response to the monkeypox outbreak.
Beginning on Monday, Mayo Clinic Laboratories will begin testing for the viral infection using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s test kit, which can detect most non-smallpox related orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox.
The testing of specimens from across the U.S. will be conducted at Mayo’s Division of Clinical Microbiology laboratories in Rochester. Mayo Labs plans to start by performing up to 10,000 tests per week, with the ability to increase capacity later if needed.
Mayo Clinic Labs joins four other companies participating in the Biden administration’s testing strategy, first announced in June; the others are Aegis Science, Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, and Sonic Healthcare.
"Our teams have worked collaboratively with the CDC to validate this test to provide patients with accurate and timely answers," said Dr. William Morice II, president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. "Access to testing is vital to combat infectious diseases to ensure patients are reducing the spread of the illness and receiving the treatments they need."
There have been 790 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the U.S., though experts believe the actual number is much higher. Nine confirmed cases have been reported in Minnesota, according to the state Department of Health.
Mayo Clinic is ramping up its response to the monkeypox outbreak.
Beginning on Monday, Mayo Clinic Laboratories will begin testing for the viral infection using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s test kit, which can detect most non-smallpox related orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox.
The testing of specimens from across the U.S. will be conducted at Mayo’s Division of Clinical Microbiology laboratories in Rochester. Mayo Labs plans to start by performing up to 10,000 tests per week, with the ability to increase capacity later if needed.
Mayo Clinic Labs joins four other companies participating in the Biden administration’s testing strategy, first announced in June; the others are Aegis Science, Labcorp, Quest Diagnostics, and Sonic Healthcare.
"Our teams have worked collaboratively with the CDC to validate this test to provide patients with accurate and timely answers," said Dr. William Morice II, president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. "Access to testing is vital to combat infectious diseases to ensure patients are reducing the spread of the illness and receiving the treatments they need."
There have been 790 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the U.S., though experts believe the actual number is much higher. Nine confirmed cases have been reported in Minnesota, according to the state Department of Health.