Information for Laboratories

Most state laboratories are approved to test for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) using CDC's rRT-PCR assay. However, they should coordinate with CDC for specimen testing since widely available diagnostic tests are not suitable.

FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on June 5, 2013, to authorize use of CDC's 2012 real-time reverse transcription–PCR assay to test for MERS-CoV in clinical respiratory, blood, and stool specimens. CDC has distributed this device to qualified laboratories in the United States and around the world. See 2013 Coronavirus Emergency Use Authorization (Potential Emergency) [FDA, June 6, 2013]. The Emergency Use Authorization was recently expanded to allow use for testing asymptomatic contacts.