On June 22, the U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS) announced in PA Health Alert Network (PA HAN) Health Advisory 649 that five commercial laboratory companies would soon begin offering monkeypox testing. As per PA HAN 643 and PA HAN 647, providers should consider testing any patient who presents with a rash or lesions that are consistent with monkeypox or presents with a rash or lesions and an epidemiologic risk factor for monkeypox. With this additional monkeypox testing capacity provided by commercial laboratory companies, providers will have more convenient access to monkeypox testing, although it should be noted that the commercial labs will charge for the testing and Pennsylvania state labs will not. If you have any questions, please call your local health department or PA DOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).
