The AMD Program

The AMD Program
CDC’s Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) program unlocks the promise of technology to protect Americans from microbial threats. AMD lets scientists see into microbes in ways and in detail that have never been possible before. This major enhancement of CDC’s microbiology and bioinformatics capabilities helps scientists and public health professionals find and stop infectious disease outbreaks that threaten Americans every day.

AMD will transform how the U.S. public health system detects and responds to diseases by providing more precise and accurate means to

• Diagnose known and emerging infections
• Find disease outbreaks we are missing now
• Understand and control antibiotic resistance
• Develop and target measures—like vaccines—to protect people’s health

Using AMD, experts in laboratory science, epidemiology, and bioinformatics join forces to go from a hunch to certainty in record time to prevent illness and save lives.

Why We’re Here

• The increasing availability and affordability of AMD technologies is rapidly changing the practice of microbiology. These technologies can deliver a greater level of detailed information on infectious pathogens while reducing reliance on more time-consuming and costly traditional diagnostic methods.
• When combined with enhanced laboratory and computing (i.e., bioinformatics) capacities, these new technologies are revolutionizing our ability to detect and respond to infectious disease threats.
• With AMD, CDC will be able to detect outbreaks sooner and respond more effectively, saving lives and reducing cost.