Western States Say C.D.C. Delayed Action on New Measles Test

October 21, 2026 - 22:30

A coalition of Western states asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help validate a new measles test, but the agency did not act on the request, according to officials involved. The C.D.C. responded about two months later, telling the states it had "competing priorities," the officials said.

The delay left state health laboratories without federal confirmation of the test's accuracy at a time when measles cases were rising in several parts of the country. State officials said they wanted the agency to review the test so they could rely on it during outbreak investigations and routine surveillance.

The coalition's request reflects a broader tension between federal and state public health agencies over resources and responsiveness. States often depend on the C.D.C. to validate diagnostic tools before they are used widely, and a slow reply can stall local planning.

The agency did not dispute the account of its response. It was not immediately clear whether the test has since been validated or whether the states found another way to confirm its performance. Public health experts said the episode raises questions about how quickly federal agencies can review new tests when several states ask at once, and whether those requests are tracked with clear timelines.