Interesting - From those same wonderful folks who created covid, now we get defective test kits.
“After December 31, 2021, the CDC will withdraw the use of the PCR test for COVID-19 testing.
The CDC finally admitted the test does not differentiate between the flu and COVID virus. “
CDC is recommending that laboratories that routinely conduct influenza testing as well as COVID-19 testing, such as public health laboratories, consider transitioning to a test that can generate a result for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2, rather than running separate tests for each virus. The CDC Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (Flu SC2) Multiplex Assay, one such assay available to public health laboratories, can simultaneously detect and differentiate SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, and Influenza B with one test. It is a more resource-efficient way for public health laboratories to meet influenza and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance goals.
No. The CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel was specifically designed to only detect SARS-CoV-2 viral genetic material. It does not detect influenza or differentiate between influenza and SARS-CoV-2. The presence of influenza viral genetic material within a specimen will not cause a false positive result.
There are other multianalyte tests available, including the CDC Influenza SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Assay, that can simultaneously detect and differentiate Influenza A, Influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2.
No. The CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel does not confuse influenza with SARS-CoV-2. It is a highly accurate test that detects the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 viral genetic material within a patient specimen.
Source:
1. 07/21/2021: Lab Alert: Changes to CDC RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 Testing
2. 08/02/2021: Lab Alert: Clarifications about the Retirement of the CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel