Question: What if the lab can't find VTM for testing?

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19
section_headers: For All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing
I can’t find viral transport media (VTM) for SARS-CoV-2 testing. What are my options?
section_content: Public health laboratories can order VTM through IRR, as noted above.
Clinical testing laboratories should acquire VTM from commercial
sources.
Public health and clinical laboratories can also create their own VTM if they
are unable to order it. In response to VTM shortages, CDC has posted a 
standard operating procedurepdf icon to create VTM for laboratories. Saline is also an
acceptable transport media for some COVID-19 viral assays, including the CDC
EUA. Check the Instructions for Use with the EUA Assayexternal
icon to see which transport
media is acceptable.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Answer is concise and references VTM specifically as well as gives links for additional information that the lab might need including for actually creating VTM if lab has the capacity to do so.
Provides clear and detailed instructions specifically about accessing VTMs.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19
section_headers: For All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing
Where do laboratories get access to reagents and materials to perform viral testing for SARS-CoV-2?
section_content: Public health laboratories can access collection materials for SARS-CoV-2
testing, including swabs and transport media, through the International
Reagent Resource (IRR)external
icon. The IRR
supports state and local public health laboratories, as well as other
qualified laboratories participating in public health surveillance and
studies, by providing reagents, tools, and information for studying SARS-CoV-2
and other pathogens.
Through IRR, CDC also provides the reagents that public health laboratories
use to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory specimens. One test for SARS-
CoV-2 detection is a CDC-developed real-time reverse transcription polymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR) test that received an EUA from FDA on February 4,
2020, to detect the virus in upper and lower respiratory specimens. IRR also
provides several additional commercially produced assays that have received an
EUA from FDA to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in respiratory samples.
Clinical and commercial laboratories conducting SARS-CoV-2 viral testing
can acquire test reagents from commercial reagent manufacturers that have
received EUA from FDA. Genomic RNA material for validation purposes can be
obtained from BEI Resources as indicated below.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
General advice on getting testing supplies, though it doesn't mention VTMs specifically.
Gives a link for lab to try to find additional ways to get resources but does not go any further than that in a way that is helpful to the requester specifically.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19
section_headers: For All Laboratories: Test Developers
My facility created a laboratory-developed test (LDT) to detect SARS-CoV-2. We need to have the first five positive and negative specimens confirmed. Can we send these specimens to CDC?
section_content: Laboratories using an LDT to detect SARS-CoV-2 should confer with their state
public health laboratory for assistance. If the state public health laboratory
cannot assist, contact respvirus@cdc.gov.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Doesn't mention VTMs or discuss alternatives. Answer is off-topic.
Gives guidance for labs using LDT which may be useful for the lab but is not germane to the question at hand.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Could be Improved