Kia ora Will
Thank you for your email. Your query has been passed on to the COVID-19
Response team for a reply.
You can expect a response from the team directly in due course.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]

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From: Will Maynard <[FOI #16639 email]>
Sent: Monday, 6 September 2021 20:56
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - PCR testing
 
Dear Ministry of Health,

Can I please confirm the accuracy of PCR testing, where you gain the
research from to continue this invasive medical procedure, if this is
still done under the emergency authorization act and how it defines
influenza and covid19?

I notice the CDC has withdrawn this procedure under the Emergency
authorization act as it cannot tell the difference between covid19 and
influenza?

Yours faithfully,

Will Maynard

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Kia ora Will,
Thank you for getting in touch with the Ministry of Health.

The CDC review did not conclude that the PCR tests being used in the U.S.
could not differentiate between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. On 21 July 2021,
the U.S. CDC

[1]announced they will be withdrawing the PCR diagnostic test for
SARS-CoV-2 on 31 December 2021. This is the test which was given FDA
Emergency Use Authorisation in February 2020. The diagnostic PCR panel
being withdrawn only tests for SARS-CoV-2 and no other organisms. The CDC
is recommending laboratories in the U.S. adopt a multiplex PCR panel that
can test for both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza at the same time. This
multiplex PCR panel can save time, money, and resources. The withdrawal
and subsequent recommendation of a multiplex PCR does not impact the
testing protocols currently undertaken by New Zealand diagnostic
laboratories. The Ministry of Health continues to evaluate current and
upcoming SARS-CoV-2 testing technologies.

This withdrawal relates to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic panel that was first
introduced under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use
Authorisation. The New Zealand diagnostic labs have all transitioned to
using other assays over the past year. This withdrawal does not impact the
PCR testing undertaken by New Zealand diagnostic laboratories.
We hope that this information is helpful for you and wish you all the
best.
Ngā mihi nui 
COVID-19 Response and Co-ordination Team
Ministry of Health
Do your bit to keep New Zealand COVID free; practice good hygiene
(includes washing your hands often and coughing into your
elbow), sign into places using the NZ COVID Tracer app, if you’re
unwell stay home and get tested.
From: Will Maynard <[FOI #16639 email]>
Sent: Monday, 6 September 2021 20:56
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - PCR testing
 
Dear Ministry of Health,

Can I please confirm the accuracy of PCR testing, where you gain the
research from to continue this invasive medical procedure, if this is
still done under the emergency authorization act and how it defines
influenza and covid19?

I notice the CDC has withdrawn this procedure under the Emergency
authorization act as it cannot tell the difference between covid19 and
influenza?

Yours faithfully,

Will Maynard

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #16639 email]

Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

show quoted sections

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway

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3. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...