Question: What items are needed for laboratories to test for COVID-19?

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:
It gives some in-depth information about what's needed and gives multiple locations where supplies can be received in addition to giving a link.
This mostly talks about how you can acquire testing items as opposed to which ones are needed.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19
section_headers: For Public Health Laboratories: Ordering Supplies
Where can I find a complete product list of items for SARS-CoV-2 testing?
section_content: A comprehensive list of all viral testing supplies available through IRR is
provided on the IRR websiteexternal
icon. New
reagents may be added to the IRR catalog as the emergency response progresses.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Doesn't directly list what is needed but provides a link to what does show this
It doesn't the question completely but it addresses the question, and gives a link with more information.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Acceptable

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19
section_headers: For All Laboratories: Accessing Laboratory Testing
Under what circumstances should laboratories use either a SARS-CoV-2 viral or serology (antibody) test that has received EUA from FDA?
section_content: FDA has authorized EUAs for both viral and antibody tests for COVID-19. Viral
(nucleic acid and antigen) tests are used to diagnose the presence of SARS-
CoV-2 infections. In contrast, antibody tests can detect IgG, IgA, and IgM
antibodies from an immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
Whenever possible, laboratories should rely on viral tests to diagnose the
presence of SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, a negative result from viral
testing does not rule out COVID-19.
Most of the PCR-based tests that use two or more targets are likely to have
high specificity (few false positives). However, there is some variation in
the stated sensitivity of the different assays, and sensitivity is highly
dependent on the stage of the disease. For this reason, negative results
should always be interpreted in the context of the exposure history and
symptoms of the patient.
Results from antibody testing should not be used to diagnose or exclude SARS-
CoV-2 infections or to inform infection status. Negative results from antibody
testing do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infections, particularly for those
individuals who have been exposed to the virus and are still within the
estimated incubation period. Until the performance characteristics of antibody
tests have been evaluated, it is possible that positive results from such
testing may be due to past or present infections with a coronavirus other than
SARS-CoV-2.
If a laboratory initially uses antibody testing for diagnostic purposes,
follow-up testing using a viral test should be performed.
Read: Important Information on the Use of Serological (Antibody) Tests for
COVID-19: FDA Letter to Healthcare Providersexternal
icon
More: FDA EUA Authorized Serology Test Performanceexternal
icon

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It doesn't direct you to where to get supplies so much as it discusses at the testing process.
This talks about the results of virus testing, not the actual items needed to perform the tests

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Could be Improved