The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) has continually worked to modernize and improve testing for COVID-19 in Oregon. As part of this effort, OSPHL is pleased to announce that COVID-19 viral genome sequencing will be performed at OSPHL for specimens of public health significance beginning Monday, March 29, 2021. Sequencing at OSPHL will enhance public health response by providing timely sequencing results for variants of interest, concern and high consequence. OSPHL and state epidemiologists have collaborated to provide the Criteria for Requesting COVID-19 Sequencing at OSPHL. This guidance outlines: The situations in which COVID-19 sequencing at OSPHL will be approved, How to request sequencing at OSPHL, and Specimen types that will be accepted. We are honored to provide this service to further support Oregon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to request sequencing, please follow the instructions in the Criteria for Requesting COVID-19 Sequencing at OSPHL.
