Question: We are in laboratories obtain reagents for COVID-19 testing?

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:
Has detailed information about how laboratories can obtain reagents for testing. Fully addresses question.
This response gives a direct answer to the question by providing an external link where public labs can obtain testing materials. It then goes into more specifics about the procedures

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: CDC):
page_title: Frequently Asked Questions about Laboratory Testing and COVID-19
section_headers: For Clinical Laboratories: Ordering Supplies
How do I obtain reagents for the CDC EUA real-time RT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2?
section_content: Clinical laboratories can purchase reagents for the CDC EUA real-time RT-PCR
primers and probes from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) or Biosearch
Technologies. CDC has posted a list of approved reagents and acceptable lots
on the CDC COVID-19 website .
Clinical laboratories also can purchase commercially developed viral tests
with an EUA from the manufacturer.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has brief but helpful information about where to request reagents for tests.
This is another good answer that gives an exact response to the question. It is shorter on details but to the point and provides a link to approved reagents from the CDC

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
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:
Discusses antibody testing but doesn't provide information or links to acquire reagents.
This response goes into a lot of detail about the testing that labs do but it doesn't have the place where labs can get reagents which is what the question is asking. It could be better in that sense

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Could be Improved