Advocacy - Lab Advocate
In recognition of Children’s Health Month, the ADLM is spotlighting its ongoing advocacy to advance federal policies that improve pediatric laboratory medicine and ensure that every child’s test result is interpreted accurately and equitably.
Throughout October, ADLM has been emphasizing the vital role of laboratory medicine in children’s health through – including an upcoming congressional briefing, ongoing engagement with federal agencies, and recent congressional briefing highlighting the need for sustainable federal investment in pediatric laboratory data. These efforts build on years of advocacy calling for stronger interagency coordination, dedicated funding for reference interval research, and expanded public health programs that support clinical testing for the nation’s youngest patients.
Upcoming Congressional Briefing on Pediatric Reference Intervals
On October 29, ADLM will host a congressional staff briefing on Capitol Hill focused on the urgent need to modernize pediatric reference intervals (PRIs)—the age-specific ranges used by clinicians to interpret laboratory results in children.
Unlike adults, children’s bodies change rapidly as they grow, and normal laboratory values shift accordingly. However, many PRIs currently in use are based on adult populations or limited pediatric datasets that do not reflect today’s diverse child population. These outdated values can lead to missed diagnoses, delayed interventions, or even unnecessary treatments.
Speakers Drs. Danyel Tacker and Stanley Lo, and moderator Dr. Dennis Dietzen will discuss the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) proposal to expand and update pediatric reference data through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Environmental Health Laboratory. By collecting and analyzing samples from healthy children across age groups, CDC can establish accurate, population-based reference values that reflect the full spectrum of children’s health.
In addition to PRIs, the briefing will highlight the broader ecosystem of pediatric laboratory testing—including newborn screening programs and the essential role of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) in diagnosing rare diseases and other conditions where no commercial tests exist. Together, these programs and innovations form the backbone of early detection and precision care for children nationwide.
ADLM is advocating for $10 million in dedicated federal funding to support this work. This investment would enable CDC to generate comprehensive, harmonized pediatric reference data for a wide range of commonly ordered tests—improving diagnostic accuracy, advancing equity, and strengthening the foundation for pediatric clinical decision-making.
The October 29 briefing will provide congressional staff with an opportunity to hear directly from clinical laboratory professionals about the real-world impact of outdated reference intervals and the national importance of accurate laboratory interpretation in pediatric care.
The upcoming briefing builds on the momentum of a joint letter sent to Congress on August 15, in which ADLM and 51 partner organizations urged dedicated CDC funding for PRIs. The letter, endorsed by leading pediatric and laboratory societies, emphasized that reliable reference intervals are fundamental to interpreting test results and making sound clinical decisions for children. It also highlighted CDC’s scalable plan to use existing infrastructure—such as NHANES and the Environmental Health Laboratory—to efficiently generate and update reference data for pediatric populations.
By collaborating with pediatric societies, clinical laboratories, and public health organizations, ADLM continues to help amplify a unified message: modern pediatric reference data are essential for ensuring that every child’s test result is meaningful, actionable, and accurate.
Engaging Federal Agencies to Advance Pediatric Testing Policy
In addition to congressional outreach, ADLM has continued to engage with federal agencies to promote data consistency and test accuracy for children. On September 29, the association submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in response to the Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment.
ADLM’s letter encouraged HHS to prioritize pediatric laboratory testing accuracy and harmonization within its broader strategy to improve children’s health. Specifically, the letter urged stronger coordination among CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop consistent pediatric data standards and ensure that test results are comparable across laboratories and healthcare settings.
The letter also emphasized the importance of sustaining and expanding CDC’s clinical standardization programs, which serve as the foundation for laboratory consistency nationwide. These programs ensure that a test result obtained in one lab can be meaningfully compared to a result from another—an essential component of accurate pediatric diagnosis, particularly for chronic conditions that require ongoing monitoring.
ADLM’s will maintain its continued commitment to addressing longstanding gaps in pediatric laboratory medicine. Accurate and equitable testing is essential to early diagnosis, preventive care, and improved long-term health outcomes for children. Yet despite rapid advances in diagnostic technology, the data used to interpret many pediatric tests remain incomplete or outdated.
ADLM aims to bridge this gap by supporting federal initiatives that expand access to high-quality data, promote laboratory harmonization, and ensure that test interpretation is grounded in current science. The association’s work on pediatric reference intervals aligns closely with broader national goals of data modernization, health equity, and precision medicine, demonstrating how laboratory professionals can contribute to shaping a more accurate and inclusive healthcare system.
Throughout Children’s Health Month, ADLM will continue to collaborate with Congress, federal agencies, and partner organizations to advance policies that improve the accuracy, reliability, and reach of laboratory testing for children. From its advocacy for CDC’s PRI initiative to its input on national health policy, ADLM remains steadfast in its mission to promote high-quality, evidence-based laboratory medicine that supports better outcomes for every child.