ATLANTA (Great Lakes News) – Emergency use authorization for PCR COVID-19 tests is gone in the new year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is withdrawing its request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use of the PCR test on Dec. 31, 2021.

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According to the CDC website, the PCR test may not as reliable as the authorized alternatives to distinguish between COVID-19 and the flu.

The CDC announced this move in July so clinical labs could have time to select and implement authorized alternatives.