The Food and Drug Administration warns that a widely used test of coronavirus could produce false results.
FDA warned healthcare professionals and laboratories about problems with Thermo Fisher’s Scientific TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit. The problems – which result in both false negatives and false positions – include the laboratory equipment and software used to perform the popular tests.
The FDA said technicians should follow updated instructions and software to avoid the problems.
“The FDA is working with Thermo Fisher Scientific and our public health partners to address these issues. The FDA will continue to keep clinical laboratory staff, healthcare providers, manufacturers, and the public informed about new and additional information, ‘the agency said.
Here are other coronavirus headers:
No big meetings, Birx asks
White House Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx urges people to skip large meetings until there is an effective vaccine against COVID-19.
“What does social distance mean? It means we ask every citizen not to have large gatherings in their backyard until we have an effective vaccine, “said Birx.” We know there is a huge asymptomatic spread.
“We all want to believe our family members, our neighbors could not have COVID. I can tell you in the United States that they do, ‘she added.
Birx said reducing the spread of community to schools and universities could reopen and end many of the current restrictions on social distance.
Cluster of cases traced to university party
A cluster of COVID-19 cases has been traced to an off-campus party at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, university officials said.
The party took place last week and is linked to the cluster, defined as at least five affiliated cases as 20 people in quarantine stemming from one event. The cluster was identified through tracing of contracts.
UT currently has 75 active cases of COVID-19 and 270 in self-isolation.
Notre Dame shifted to distance learning
The University of Notre Dame is moving for the next two weeks to study remotely amidst a spike of coronavirus.
University President Rev. John I. Jenkins said the university has seen a “dramatic increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the first few weeks of students on campus.
“The spike in cases is very serious. And we need to take serious steps to tackle it, “Jenkins added.
For the next two weeks, all undergraduate classes will be at a distance and public spaces will be closed. Living rooms will be restricted and students living off campus will be urged not to come to the university.
