The CDC’s PCR Tests Distinguish COVID-19 From Influenza

14th January 2022

The CDC’s PCR Tests Distinguish COVID-19 From Influenza

A new PCR test can detect both COVID-19 and flu viruses, the CDC says (Getty).

The Claim

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discontinues the use of PCR testing for COVID-19, finally admitting that the test cannot distinguish between the flu and the COVID virus.

News posted on

Emerging story

Websites and social media users have circulated posts claiming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided to withdraw its PCR test for COVID-19 because it can not differentiate between the flu and COVID-19 virus.

HUGE. CDC Withdraws Use of PCR Test for COVID and Finally Admits the Test Can Not Differentiate Between the Flu and COVID Virus https://www.thegatewaypundit. com/2021/12/huge-cdc-withdraws-use-pcr-test-covid-finally-admits-test-can-not-differentiate-flu-covid-virus
— clif (@clif_high) January 11, 2022

The claim was first shared by The Gateway Pundit website on December the 29th, 2022, after the CDC's decision in July to withdraw the PCR test in 2022 that the agency created.

A supporting image within the article body

Photo description: The Gateway Pundit was the first website that shared the claim.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar has investigated the claim and found it misleading.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention decided to remove its PCR tests from the list of tests under emergency use authorization because of the availability of others tests that can detect both flu and COVID-19 virus.

Photo description: The PCR test was no longer filling an unmet need.

The CDC decided to withdraw the PCR tests and adopt other new tests that can check people for both COVID-19 virus and flu viruses, especially since the PCR test was designed only to detect the COVID-19 virus and not influenza.

Photo description: The CDC adopted other tests for both COVID-19 virus and flu viruses.

Experts have confirmed that it is technically impossible for the agency’s tests to confuse the virus that causes COVID-19 with the Influenza because they are designed only to detect SARS-Cov-2 and can not identify another virus.