CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, California hospital says

Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by Reelin on Thursday February 27, 2020 @04:52PM (#22438350)

I think you've misunderstood. The CDC page I linked provides a diagnostic protocol for testing samples for presence of the virus. The disclaimer explicitly forbids using the protocol as a diagnostic test in a medical setting, reminding the reader that it is not approved for such use and is to be used for research purposes only. That's the silly part - industrial biotech oligos are _more_ than reliable enough for human diagnostic testing during an active crisis.

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Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by rolph on Thursday February 27, 2020 @05:14PM (#22438529)

its not about reliability its about being vetted into the process, rather than have a bunch of randos doing things and making a bunch of reporting noise.

there is a form if you want to see about trying to help out:

if you want to request the RT/PCR kit:

[1] https://www.internationalreagentresource.org/About/IRR.aspx

If you think you have a good idea and want to help:

[2] https://medicalcountermeasures.gov/app/barda/coronavirus.asp...

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Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by Reelin on Thursday February 27, 2020 @05:45PM (#22438794)

A bunch of randos? You mean trained lab technicians with extensive experience running RT-PCR assays on a regular basis? You mean biotech vendors that already synthesize ultra high purity custom oligos? https://www.genewiz.com/en/Public/Services/Oligo

It's quite possible I've missed some crucial piece of information about why this wouldn't work. So far though, I've seen no reasonable explanation as to why we need specially approved kits at this point. These are standard reagents and standard techniques; the lack of widespread rapid testing in the US is bureaucratic in nature, not technical.

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Re:CDC declined to test new coronavirus patient for days, Ca... by rolph on Thursday February 27, 2020 @05:51PM (#22438838)

>the lack of widespread rapid testing in the US is bureaucratic in nature, not technical.

that is the thing right there-

the federal government has OCD when it comes to a lot of things its not that you dont have a reputation as a professional, its that you/we dont have a rep with them until they check us out.

+ if you want a kit use form [1]

if you think the kit is somehow deficient goto form [2]

that is the way federal government engages.

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