COVID-19 swab tests are now raising DNA privacy concerns after CDC (Centers for Disease Control) confirmed that 10% of the PCR tests are sent to genome labs for genomic sequencing.
"If it was processed with a PCR test, there's a 10% chance that it ended up in a lab for genomic sequencing analysis," said the health agency via its official Twitter post.
Remember that #COVID19 nose swab test you took? What happened to the swab? If it was processed with a PCR test, there’s a 10% chance that it ended up in a lab for genomic sequencing analysis. Learn more about the process and its importance: https://t.co/XAHSGANLxu @WIRED @CDC_AMD
— CDC (@CDCgov) February 16, 2022
CDC's latest tweet generated more than 2,200 likes, 3,300 quote tweets, and 2,200 retweets.
COVID-19 Swab Tests Raises DNA Concerns
According to NewsWeek's latest report, the announcement made by CDC regarding COVID-19 swab tests is now raising DNA privacy concerns.
One of the individuals questioning the Centers for Disease Control is U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
She retweeted the post of the CDC and asked if the health agency asks people whenever they are taking their DNA.
But, many Twitter users in the comment section seem to side with CDC. One of them said that CDC is not sequencing the DNA of the patients.
Did the @CDCgov get permission from people to take their DNA??? https://t.co/vuD10F9AyK
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 16, 2022
Instead, the genome labs focus on the COVID-19 virus DNA. He added that Greene should click the link provided by the agency to have a better idea of how CDC conducts COVID-19 genomic sequencing.
Aside from this Twitter user, another individual brought up the U.S. police departments, saying that they also collect people's DNA without any permission.
Is Genome Sequencing Important?
Genome sequencing is the process of decoding DNA. Since this method is quite efficient for understanding the DNA nucleotides order, it is now used to identify patients infected by the deadly COVID-19.
This process allows experts to know essential details about the virus within the human body. If you want to see more about how genome sequencing works, you can visit this link.
In our previous report, the U.S. Army was able to complete its COVID-19 vaccine phase 1 trial.
Elon Musk claimed that the original COVID-19 pandemic already ended a long time ago.
For more news updates about COVID-19 and other related health topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
