The work is part of a CDC project to identify novel mutations in the virus and better understand its prevalence and patterns of transmission throughout the US.
The Washington Post reports there is no evidence that the rise in COVID-19 cases in the US is due to a particular strain, but notes scientists' ability to detect variants is limited.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official tells CNN the agency plans to boost the number of SARS-CoV-2 samples that are sequenced in the US.
The test originally received Emergency Use Authorization in February for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in upper and lower respiratory specimens.
Imperial College London researchers are shifting away from testing a COVID-19 vaccine to focus on combating newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, the Independent says.