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';) HEALTH
133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
9 August 2021
Deborah Drew
By email: [FYI request #16170 email]
Ref:
H202109389
Tena koe Deborah
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 23 July 2021 for
information related to
CovSars-2 PCR test results. You specifically requested:
"(CovSars-2) PCR test results are sent to ESR CDC. That data is then made available to
which organisations after that? Are they privately owned DNA data bases? The individual
whose DNA is extracted is made aware of where it is sent, how it is used and is this also
fully consented to by the individual tested in NZ?"
The PCR test results held in the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) eclair
Clinical Data Repository (CDR) are provided by laboratories contracted to undertake testing.
These laboratories are not doing DNA sequencing, rather they are searching the RNA for the
COVSARS-2 genome. Based on the result of the RNA search, a
Detected or
Not Detected result
is generated. This result does not contain any DNA or RNA sequencing information.
The result message is sent to the following organisations:
• The requestor
• The DHB Regional Clinical Data Repository
• The ESR Clinical Data Repository
• ESR then send a copy of the result to the Ministry of Health's data warehouses and key
applications such as the National Contact Tracing System
The Ministry has provided anonymised extracts of the results to external organisations and
individuals who have supported the Ministry in tracking, projecting and analysing COVSARS-2.
I trust this information satisfies your request under the Act. Under section 28(3) of the Act you
have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request. The
Ombudsman may be contacted by email at: [email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Naku noa, na
Gaynor Bra ·eld
Manag.e , Office of the Deputy Director-General
Data and Digital
