According to early releases from CDC, the original reagent test panels were only compatible with 1 specific piece of equipment, the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast DX Real-Time PCR Instrument. If your lab didn’t have the equipment AND was “certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform high complexity tests”, then no test for you. They are now making kits that are compatible with equipment that is much more common is small labs and hospitals.
This really minimized getting a valid test for many patients.