To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
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Use Agreement with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Regarding the American Type Culture Collection Influenza Reagent Resource
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached Use Agreement by and between the County of Humboldt and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Beginning Fiscal Year 2025-26; and
2. Authorize the Department of Health & Human Services - Public Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute the attached Use Agreement by and between the County of Humboldt and CDC beginning Fiscal Year 2025-26; and
3. Authorize the Department of Health & Human Services - Public Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments, certifications, attestations, and documents directly associated with the attached Use Agreement with CDC after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 1002- Remove barriers to quality healthcare
DISCUSSION:
The Influenza Reagent Resource (IRR), funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a biological reagent repository established to provide free access to Influenza virus strains and research reagents. In September 2008, CDC’s Influenza Division contracted with The American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) to implement the IRR. The IRR resources are available to public health facilities, research institutions, life science companies, and other entities, agencies, and institutions.
In the past, Influenza reagents such as virus strains, World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance reagent kits, real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kits, and antisera were produced and distributed by the CDC Influenza Division. Now, reagents will be manufactured and distributed by the IRR to increase the availability and accessibility of Influenza viruses and reagents for public health purposes as they are used in Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) activities consistent with the WHO PIP Framework (Exhibit A).
The Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory (HCPHL) receives reagents for respiratory disease testing including reagents for the CDC’s Influenza subtyping and COVID-19 tests from the IRR for no cost to the county. As of June 15, 2026, the IRR will require an executed IRR Use Agreement in order to continue receiving the reagents needed to continue this respiratory testing.
The IRR User Agreement will be effective in perpetuity after execution until or unless terminated by either party.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175), Public Health Laboratory (435)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Use Agreement with CDC will allow HCPHL to access the IRR. There are no financial impacts associated with this Use Agreement.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There are no staffing impacts associated with approval of this Use Agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may decide to not approve the ATCC IRR Use Agreement from CDC. However, it is not recommended as the HCPHL would not be able to conduct Influenza testing.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. CDC ATCC IRR Use Agreement
2. Exhibit A - WHO PIP Framework
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A