Cepheid Selected by CDC as National Collaborator to Accelerate Rapid Diagnostic Development for Future Pandemics

Cepheid has been selected by the CDC as one of four national collaborators under a new federal initiative aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of rapid diagnostics during public health emergencies. The award, issued under a multiple-award Indefinite Delivery–Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, strengthens the nation’s diagnostic readiness and reinforces Cepheid’s long-standing leadership in outbreak response.

Through this collaboration, the CDC can provide Cepheid with early access to outbreak samples, genomic sequences, and critical reference materials during emerging public health threats. Early access is essential during the initial phase of pathogen emergence, when time is measured in days, not months. By closing development gaps at the front end of an outbreak, diagnostic manufacturers can move more quickly from sequence identification to assay deployment.

“This collaboration with the CDC is about strengthening diagnostic readiness long before the next outbreak becomes visible,” Vitor Rocha, president of Cepheid, said exclusively to Infection Control Today^® (ICT^®). “Early access to samples and reference materials allows us to close critical development gaps and support faster, more informed responses that help protect patients, healthcare workers, and communities. This is important work, and Cepheid is proud to build a stronger, better-prepared public health future.”

The IDIQ framework is designed to provide flexibility during emergencies when agencies cannot predetermine exact quantities or delivery schedules for supplies or services. In the context of diagnostics, that flexibility supports rapid scaling as new threats evolve.

“For years, Cepheid has been at the forefront of outbreak response,” Rocha is quoted in a Cepheid press release. “We are honored to be selected by CDC for this IDIQ award for rapid, scalable diagnostics, and we are confident the collaboration can leverage our pioneering technology and global footprint to help public health systems respond swiftly and effectively to emerging challenges.”

Cepheid’s integrated PCR systems are built to deliver accurate results across diverse care settings, from major academic medical centers to remote and resource limited environments. Rapid molecular testing supports early detection, real-time surveillance, and evidence-based decision-making, all of which are critical to limiting the spread and guiding treatment strategies during outbreaks.

Larry Kelmar, vice president of government programs and pharma collaborations at Cepheid, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “Cepheid has proven we can reliably deliver quality molecular diagnostics when they’re needed most,” he said. “Working closely with partners like the CDC strengthens our ability to rapidly respond to new outbreaks and safeguard communities with advanced, high-impact testing solutions.”

Cepheid’s role in the pandemic response was highly visible during COVID-19. Within weeks of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence being published, the company launched the first US point-of-care polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the virus. That rapid development demonstrated the ability to compress timelines without compromising analytical performance or quality standards.

The new collaboration builds on that experience. By formalizing early access to materials and strengthening public-private coordination, the initiative aims to modernize outbreak detection and ensure that diagnostic innovation keeps pace with evolving pathogens.

For infection preventionists and public health leaders, the implications are clear. Rapid diagnostics are not simply laboratory tools. They are frontline defense mechanisms that shape isolation decisions, guide antimicrobial stewardship, and inform outbreak containment strategies.