California Coronavirus Testing Task Force
In April 2020, 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 lead by Dr. Kathleen Jacobson with the California Department of Public Health.
Mission
The Testing Task Force (TTF) supports California’s SMARTER response to COVID-19 by increasing access to testing for all Californians, particularly communities at higher risk. Timely testing can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and lead individuals to early treatment. Genomic surveillance by the TTF also provides awareness of emerging variants and trends to inform public health action and policy
Goals of Testing Task Force
-
Develop expert guidance to better understand and implement testing.
-
Drive targeted initiatives to improve testing access, timeliness, and equity.
-
Leverage innovative technologies and strategies to reduce barriers to testing.
-
Facilitate testing through trusted community and school sites.
-
Support SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance and epidemiology through COVIDNet.
-
Operationalize state-sponsored Test to Treat sites.
-
Share data and track progress on access to testing and treatment.
How Testing Data is Tracked
Most labs and 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.
Additional Resources
Guidance for Schools Performing Waived Antigen Testing
Guidance for Congregate Living Facilities Performing Waived Antigen Testing (ca.gov)
COVID-19: Information for Laboratories Home Page (contains additional Laboratory Field Services links and resources)
COVID-19 Testing Task Force Lab List
- TAT dashboard (PDF) – Added on 9/9/2022
- TAT dashboard (XLSX) – Added on 9/9/2022
- Approved Antigen Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2
- Infection Control Guidance for Clients in Congregate Shelters, Including Shelters for People Experiencing Homelessness
- Valencia Branch Laboratory Inspection FAQs (PDF) – Added on 2/22/2021
Expanding Access to Testing: Guidance on Testing for COVID-19
Expanding Access to Community Testing
- The Color Lab Network is a group of laboratories contracted by the Testing Task Force for molecular testing.
- OptumServe sites have partnered with the Testing Task Force to both expand testing and provide test-to-treat access to COVID-19 therapeutics at no charge. Click here to find an appointment: https://lhi.care/covidtesting.
- For more information about School Testing, visit the Testing Task Force’s School Testing webpage.
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