Testing

• The CDC paused diagnostic testing for rabies, mpox, and over 24 other diseases in March 2026 following significant staffing reductions. • As of July 1, the agency has not provided public clarity regarding the restoration status of these critical diagnostic services. • This pause creates a gap in public health surveillance and diagnostic capabilities for high-risk infectious diseases.

• The CDC's malaria testing branch faced severe budget or operational cuts in spring 2026, surpassing the reductions seen in the rabies lab. • These cuts threaten the ability to identify specific malaria species, which is critical for determining the correct medical treatment for patients. • Separately, a June 2026 trial indicated that daily probiotics may enhance antidepressant efficacy in seniors, while two other trials showed Paxlovid does not significantly reduce hospitalizations for vaccinated high-risk adults.

• The CDC is ending its federal measles diagnostic testing program, shifting the responsibility for these tests to state laboratories. • While state labs already handle the majority of measles testing, critics are alarmed that the loss of federal oversight could impact surveillance and response times. • This policy shift reflects a transition toward decentralized public health monitoring, though concerns remain regarding the consistency of testing capabilities across different states.

• Four San Francisco Giants players recently defaced or refused to wear official Pride Night hats during a team event. • The players stated that the action was planned for several weeks and denied that they were victims of discrimination. • The incident highlights a conflict between team-mandated social initiatives and individual player beliefs or expressions.

FTSE 100 business ‘minded to recommend’ £60-a-share tilt from company owned by billionaire Wallenberg familyThe laboratory testing company Intertek has become the latest FTSE 100 business to agree to a takeover, backing a £10.6bn approach from a private equity firm owned by Sweden’s billionaire Wallenberg family.After rebuffing three previous approaches, Intertek’s board said it was “minded to recommend” the £60-a-share tilt from the Swedish buyout firm EQT to shareholders, if there is a firm offer. Continue reading...

Samhsa said funding cannot be used to purchase or distribute fentanyl test strips or other drug test kitsThe Trump administration’s decision to restrict use of federal funds for fentanyl test strips, in what officials described as a “clear shift away from harm reduction”, could have fatal consequences, experts and critics have warned.The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Samhsa) issued an open letter in April ordering an end to the use of its funding for all substance testing strips, including fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine, the latest novel street drug to wreak havoc across the US. Continue reading...

• China has emerged as a real-time testing ground for mass AI adoption, with major tech companies like Tencent, Alibaba, and Baidu racing to commercialize AI tools at scale across consumer and enterprise markets. • DeepSeek's V4 AI model preview last month introduced Huawei-made chips, reducing dependence on US chipmakers like Nvidia, while Stanford's Human-Centred AI Institute reports the US-China gap in top AI model performance has "effectively closed." • Chinese leaders have pledged an annual average growth of at least 7% in nationwide R&D spending through 2030 and invested heavily in talent development and affordable electricity infrastructure to support power-hungry AI systems.