Working With the CDC and Others To Advance Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 NORTHAMPTON, MA | ACCESSWIRE | September 27, 2022 | In 2021, Quest labs continued to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The goal of the collaboration is to aid the CDC in conducting a large-scale survey of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to identify novel mutations, providing insights on the patterns of transmission and prevalence of these mutations in the US. "Public and private collaboration is essential to mobilizing an effective response to COVID-19." Jay G. Wohlgemuth, MD Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President, Research Development Quest''s large-scale longitudinal genomic survey of the virus uses a random set of samples collected from Quest labs across the US. Quest sequences the virus genome in random, deidentified samples that test positive during molecular diagnostic COVID-19 testing for clinicians, providing the CDC with whole viral sequences. These data are combined with the results of other data provided to the CDC by national, state, academic, and commercial labs, helping to meet the CDC survey''s aims.