The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded a $16.9 million contract for a Web site to allow qualified laboratories to securely access flu viruses and test kits. In an emerging pandemic, laboratories would play a critical role in detecting and confirming initial cases, characterizing viruses, monitoring the progression of the pandemic, and selecting vaccine strains. “This new resource will be a significant improvement for accessing the CDC library of influenza viruses,” said Nancy Cox, director of CDC’s Influenza Division. “We expect that the [Web-based system] will speed the development of better diagnostic tests, antiviral drugs and vaccines.”