I could not find specific data on SARS2 differentiation or mentions of detection so I withdraw that claim.
CDC said that after December 31, 2021, it will withdraw the request to the U.S. FDA for EUA of the Real-Time RT-PCR. The test came out in Feb 20 to detect the SARS-CoV-2 only.
quote: "In preparation for this change, CDC recommends clinical laboratories and testing sites that have been using the CDC 2019-nCoV RT-PCR assay select and begin their transition to another FDA-authorized COVID-19 test. CDC encourages laboratories to consider adoption of a multiplexed method that can facilitate detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. (italics for emphasis) Such assays can facilitate continued testing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2..."
The CDC update appeara to be about a specific CDC-developed PCR test to detect genetic material from a particular organism. The agency is stressing the need for multiple tests,(multiplex suggests this) which can look for both the coronavirus and flu at the same time. This offers a chance to do flu monitoring and identify flu while testing for SARS-CoV-2. It appears if the SARS-CoV-2-only test found only that corona, and if that was the only test done, then flu infections went undetected. The “flu season” impact is clear to anyone interested in looking at the data.
So really, I should rephrase my original claim to say "PCR test could not differentiate between flu and sars2 as the teting could not detect the flu".
That is, casting our minds back to the odd disappearance of the flu last winter, plus flu death rates were significantly lower throughout 2020 than previous years. If the 'old' PCR test could not, detect, or differentiate between flu and sars2, or maybe the test was inconclusive, and the patient presented with flu/sars2 like symptoms (which have some crossover) then how many of them with the flu were just assumed to have covid? We don't know. All we know is that flu inexplicably nigh on 'disappeared' winter 2020.
Some would say "oh its masks and the plexiglass and people sitting at home" blah blah, but should we be so sure? After all, flu isn't a cakewalk either for the oldest and most frail, old timers comorbidities can and do die of the flu as well as covid.
Moreover, why they didn't think of this before and had the PCR be able to detect and differentiate between flu, and all the coronavirus and rhinovirus from the get go?
How many people tested inconclusive or negative, and had heavy colds or flus and the covid box was ticked anyway? I recall BC Gesundheitfuhrer, Bonnie Henry basically saying that some cases would be assumed. Ill try and find video of her saying that.
I could not find specific data on SARS2 differentiation or mentions of detection so I withdraw that claim.
CDC said that after December 31, 2021, it will withdraw the request to the U.S. FDA for EUA of the Real-Time RT-PCR. The test came out in Feb 20 to detect the SARS-CoV-2 only.
quote: "In preparation for this change, CDC recommends clinical laboratories and testing sites that have been using the CDC 2019-nCoV RT-PCR assay select and begin their transition to another FDA-authorized COVID-19 test. CDC encourages laboratories to consider adoption of a multiplexed method that can facilitate detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. (italics for emphasis) Such assays can facilitate continued testing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2..."
The CDC update appeara to be about a specific CDC-developed PCR test to detect genetic material from a particular organism. The agency is stressing the need for multiple tests,(multiplex suggests this) which can look for both the coronavirus and flu at the same time. This offers a chance to do flu monitoring and identify flu while testing for SARS-CoV-2. It appears if the SARS-CoV-2-only test found only that corona, and if that was the only test done, then flu infections went undetected. The “flu season” impact is clear to anyone interested in looking at the data.
So really, I should rephrase my original claim to say "PCR test could not differentiate between flu and sars1 as the teting could not detect the flu".
That is, casting our minds back to the odd disappearance of the flu last winter, plus flu death rates were significantly lower throughout 2020 than previous years. If the 'old' PCR test could not, detect, or differentiate between flu and sars2, or maybe the test was inconclusive, and the patient presented with flu/sars2 like symptoms (which have some crossover) then how many of them with the flu were just assumed to have covid? We don't know. All we know is that flu inexplicably nigh on 'disappeared' winter 2020.
Some would say "oh its masks and the plexiglass and people sitting at home" blah blah, but should we be so sure? After all, flu isn't a cakewalk either for the oldest and most frail, old timers comorbidities can and do die of the flu as well as covid.
Moreover, why they didn't think of this before and had the PCR be able to detect and differentiate between flu, and all the coronavirus and rhinovirus from the get go?
How many people tested inconclusive or negative, and had heavy colds or flus and the covid box was ticked anyway? I recall BC Gesundheitfuhrer, Bonnie Henry basically saying that some cases would be assumed. Ill try and find video of her saying that.