> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Reference Panel Released for Covid Diagnostics
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/reference-panel-released-for-covid-diagnostics/
- Published: 2020-05-28T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:16:15.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Devices, #legacy-id-D5146881

FDA has released a reference panel to support its evaluation of diagnostic tests for Covid-19\. “Reference panels are an additional step to ensure the quality of the tests, validation of new assays, test calibration, and monitoring of assay performance,” the [agency says](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-provides-new-tool-aid-development-and-evaluation-diagnostic-tests?ref=fdaweb.com). “Nucleic acid tests identify infection by confirming the presence of a virus' genetic material (RNA) and the FDA-supplied reference panel provides developers access to this material.” The reference panel is an independent performance validation step for diagnostic tests and available to commercial and laboratory developers who are interacting with the FDA through the [pre-emergency use authorization (EUA) process](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2815448-1&h=3360402167&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fda.gov%2Femergency-preparedness-and-response%2Fmcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework%2Fhow-submit-pre-eua-vitro-diagnostics-fda&a=pre-emergency+use+authorization+%28EUA%29+process&mod=article%5Finline&ref=fdaweb.com).