
California Coronavirus Testing Task Force
In April, Governor Gavin Newsom established the California COVID-19 Testing Task Force to quickly and significantly increase the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity. The Task Force works to ensure that every Californian who needs a test can get one. The task force is co-lead by Dr. Gil Chavez and Dr. Kathleen Jacobson with the California Department of Public Health.
Overarching mission
As part of California’s broader response to COVID-19, the Testing Task Force seeks to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and support public health by improving accessibility, equity, timeliness, and sustainability of testing.
Role of Testing Task Force
Guide the use and operations of limited number of state-based testing sites
Share information and track progress on testing and testing gaps
Bring together experts to develop guidance to enable better testing
Drive targeted initiatives to improve testing access, timeliness, and equity
Provide informational resources to Californians and other partners and stakeholders (e.g., local health jurisdictions)
How Testing Data is Tracked
Most local health departments report COVID-19 test results via the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange (CalREDIE), a system managed by CDPH. Labs and local health departments are required to report both positive and negative COVID-19 results. This daily, point-in-time data is collected in CalREDIE each afternoon and reported to the public the following day. The Task Force is working to that data reported remains uniform and timely.
Additional Resources
The Temporary Allowance letter has been posted. It is available here.
Information about the allowance has also been added the Guidance for Schools. Click here.
The Congregate Living Facility Guidance is posted at Guidance for Congregate Living Facilities Performing Waived Antigen Testing (ca.gov).
Links to the temporary allowance letter and the congregate living guidance have been added to the LFS COVID for Labs webpage. Click here.
- TAT dashboard (PDF) – Added on 5/13/2022
- TAT dashboard (XLSX) – Added on 5/13/2022
- Temporary Extension of At-Home Test Kit Expirations – Added on 3/9/2022
- Home Testing Information Sheet – Added on 12/30/2021
- COVID Point of Care Test Expiration Guidance (PDF) – Added on 12/12/2021
- Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (PDF) – Added on 3/22/2021
- Frequently Asked Questions Youth Sports FAQs – Added on 3/3/2021
- Valencia Branch Laboratory Inspection FAQs (PDF) – Added on 2/22/2021
- PCR, Antigen and Serology Tests (PDF) & Antigen Testing (PDF) – Added on 2/4/2021
- Testing for COVID-19 during the rollout of vaccines – Added on 1/30/2021
- TTF Diagnostic Algorithm (PDF) – Added on 12/8/2020
- 2020-11-27_OS_Utilization Dashboard (ADA) (PDF)– Added on 11/30/2020
- Antigen Guidance – Added on 9/14/2020
- Testing for COVID-19: PCR, Antigen, and Serology 8-6-20 (PDF) – Added on 9/8/2020
- Testing Task Force Playbook (PDF) – Added on 6/26/2020
- Guidance for Sample Pooling (PDF) – Added on 6/24/2020
- Testing Site Rebalancing Approach (PDF) – Added on 6/3/2020
- Testing Task Force FAQ (PDF)– Added on 5/22/2020
- Supply Distribution Information (PDF)
- Specimen collection options (PDF)
- COVID-19 General Public Serology Guidance (PDF)
Expanding Access to Testing: Updated Guidance on Prioritization for COVID-19 Testing
Expanding Access to Community Testing: CDPH Valencia Branch Laboratory
COVID-19 Lab Resources
- COVID-19 For Laboratories: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) – Added on 1/7/2021
- Testing for COVID-19: PCR, Antigen, and Serology 8-6-20 (PDF) – Added on 9/8/2020
- Serology Performance Criteria 05-07-2020 (PDF)
- Abbott M2000 Test Kit Availability (PDF)
- Lab Testing Metrics App Introduction Letter (PDF)
- TTF Lab Testing Metrics App FAQ (PDF)
- Serology Testing Indications 5-5-2020 (PDF)
Latest News
In Valencia, Governor Newsom Cuts Ribbon on California’s New Laboratory, Which Will Increase State’s COVID-19 Testing Capacity and Reduce Turnaround Times
Published: Oct 30, 2020Innovative private-public partnership with PerkinElmer will soon allow California to process an additional 150,000 COVID-19 tests a day, enabling California to test more in schools, health care providers and hard-to-reach...
Governor Newsom Announces Major Plan to More than Double State’s Testing Capacity, Reduce Turnaround Time
Published: Aug 26, 2020Contract with diagnostics company will allow California to process up to an additional 150,000 COVID-19 tests a day with a contractual turnaround time of 24-48 hoursGroundbreaking deal will disrupt testing market and drive down cost...
New Testing Site with Mass Testing Capabilities Opens in Kern County
New Testing Site with Mass Testing Capabilities Opens in Kern County July 29, 2020 Monica Vargas Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Friendly ShareToday, the State of California and Kern County announced the opening of a new test site aimed at serving...
Latest Data
Questions about Testing or the Task Force?
Antigen Office Hours
California Testing Task Force Antigen Testing Program
Office Hours -Wednesday from 1-2pm PST
Come and ask your questions about the Antigen Testing Program.
We cover:
- Individual questions
- Program operation
- Site requirements
Join us by clicking the link below.
California Testing Task Force Antigen Testing Program,
Quality Control Log FAQ Session, Tuesday 1-2pm PST
In this session, we dive deeper into the requirements of the Antigen Testing & Confirmatory PCR Testing program.
We discuss:
- Individual questions
- Quality control requirements
- Quality Control log completion
- Product Issues Log completion
Join us by clicking the link below
Official California State Government Website