Information for Laboratories
Updated May 9, 2020
This page includes interim guidance and resources for laboratory professionals working with specimens from persons under investigation (PUI) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Interim Guidance for Laboratories
Real-Time RT-PCR Resources
- Acceptable Commercial Primers and Probes pdf icon[1 Page]
- Processing of Sputum Specimens for Nucleic Acid Extraction pdf icon[1 page]
- CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Instructions for Useexternal icon
- How to Get COVID-19 Diagnostic Test and Tools
- Information about COVID-19 diagnostic tests under FDA Emergency Use Authorizationexternal icon
- To request 2019-nCoV grown in cell culture, NIH’s BEI Resources Repositoryexternal icon
COVID-19 Lab Advisories and Alerts
- 05/12/2020: Lab Advisory: CDC Posts Updated Point-of-Care Testing Biosafety Guidelines for COVID-19
- 05/09/2020: Lab Advisory: New COVID-19 Data Tracker Website for Laboratories
- 05/08/2020: Lab Advisory: Join the Next Clinical Laboratory COVID-19 Response Weekly Call on Monday, May 11 at 3:00 PM EDT
- 05/07/2020: Lab Advisory: Updated LOINC In Vitro Diagnostic (LIVD) Test Code Mapping for SARS-CoV-2 Test Results
- 05/06/2020: Lab Advisory: CMS Issues Updated COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions about Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing
Additional Resources
Requests for COVID-19 Diagnostic Tools and Virus
COVID-19 Testing by Laboratories: Q & A
Reporting COVID-19 Laboratory Data
CDC COVID Data Tracker
Testing in the US
SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing for Public Health Emergency Response, Epidemiology and Surveillance (SPHERES)
Fact Sheets to Accompany 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Test Results
Page last reviewed: May 9, 2020