4 ms·

No. The PCR tests are equally sensitive to influenza A and B, common cold coronaviruses, adenoviruses and rhinoviruses. THAT'S how "influenza disappeared" - i

• kahirsch 5y ago
  This not accurate. The PCR test was designed to be extremely specific to SARS-CoV-2. The CDC's PCR test was physically tested against human coronavirus (strains 229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1), MERS-coronavirus, SARS-coronavirus, bocavirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae Streptococcus Influenza A(H1N1) Influenza A(H3N2) Influenza B Human adenovirus, type 1 Human metapneumovirus respiratory syncytial virus (strain Long A), rhinovirus, parainfluenza 1 (strain C35), parainfluenza 2 (strain Greer), parainfluenza 3 (strain C-43), and parainfluenza 4 (strain M-25). All of these tested negative. In addition, on computer it was "evaluated against 831,910 recent high-quality genome sequences available in Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID, https://www.gisaid.org https://www.gisaid.org) as of June 6, 2021 to demonstrate the predicted inclusivity of the 2019-nCoV real-time RT-PCR Diagnostic panel." This all somes from the instructions for use (PDF)[1] for the test. The PCR test detects SARS-CoV-2 and only SARS-CoV-2. Besides, regular flu tests continued to be done using the same technologies as used in previous years. More than 1.2 million flu tests were performed in the U.S. and 99.8% of the specimens tested negative.[2] [1] https://www.fda.gov/media/134922/download#page=41 https://www.fda.gov/media/134922/download#page=41 [2] https://i.imgur.com/noBw6zV.png https://i.imgur.com/noBw6zV.png