The Coronavirus Standards Working Group's roadmap for improved population testing.

Standards are required to ensure that population-scale testing for infectious agents is accurate and reliable. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of well-characterized reference materials that ensure a test is fit-for-purpose, of proficiency testing schemes that evaluate laboratory performance, and of information standards for clear communication of test results. Standards are a simple, inexpensive and proven method to assure the performance of a reliable testing enterprise at the massive scale and diversity needed during any pandemic.