HHS and FEMA have expanded the items supplied by the International
Reagent Resource (IRR) to help public health labs access
diagnostics supplies and reagents for COVID-19 testing free of
charge. This consolidation of testing supplies under the IRR
simplifies the resource request process for states and
territories and alleviates the burden on public health labs of
the need to work with separate, individual suppliers for swabs,
reagents and other diagnostic testing supplies. The expanded list
of diagnostic supplies will include supplies to support the three
components needed for COVID-19 testing: sample kits, extraction
kits and test kits.
The International Reagent Resource (IRR) was established by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide
registered users with reagents, tools and information for
studying and detection of Influenza Virus. The IRR acquires,
authenticates, and produces reagents that scientists need to
carry out basic research and develop improved diagnostic tests,
vaccines, and detection methods.
