False: The CDC and FDA faked COVID-19 testing protocol as PCR tests merely detect common cold.

A social media message claimed that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conspired to fabricate the COVID-19 testing protocol. The post said that both organizations used human cells and combined them with the common cold virus fragments, as they had no physical samples of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and PCR tests only detected the common cold. According to the Mayo Clinic, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is conducted to diagnose a person for COVID-19 by detecting the coronavirus's genetic material. PCR tests are accurate when properly performed by a health care professional. Another type of PCR test called the Flu SC2 Multiplex Assay can simultaneously detect any of three viruses: the COVID-19 virus, influenza A, and influenza B (flu). Only one sample is required to test for all three viruses, which could come handy during flu season. However, a negative test does not rule out the chance of infection with any of these organisms. The CDC states that the COVID-19 tests employ PCR technology to look for viral genetic material. PCR COVID-19 tests function by determining how much genetic material is present in a sample if any. According to the FDA, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is a molecular diagnostic test that can detect active COVID-19 infection. Typically, a nasal or throat swab or saliva collected by spitting into a tube is used to collect samples for diagnostic tests. Neither of the organizations has stated that PCR tests detect the common cold. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, a PCR test is a standard laboratory technique used in research and clinical procedures to amplify or copy tiny portions of genetic material. PCR was developed in the 1980s and is currently used for various purposes such as DNA fingerprinting, identifying genetic abnormalities, and detecting germs and viruses. Primers that match a virus's genetic material section are used in COVID-19 PCR assays. According to Medline Plus, PCR tests have the potential to diagnose certain infectious diseases, detect a genetic alteration that can cause disease, and detect minuscule numbers of cancer cells that another testing would otherwise miss. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.