The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed two laboratory tests to identify SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel, which detects SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory specimens, was the first test distributed for COVID-19 diagnosis, and it was released in February 2020. In July 2020, the CDC released the CDC Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (Flu SC2) Multiplex Assay, which allows public health laboratories to run three tests in a single reaction well. The Flu SC2 Multiplex uses fewer test reagents, has a higher throughput, and provides accurate results for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B nucleic acid in a patient specimen.
