Coronavirus News: Early COVID-19 tests were likely contaminated, HHS confirms

WABC logo
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Early coronavirus tests were likely contaminated, HHS confirms
A spokesperson with the Department of Health and Human Services concedes that one of the mixtures was the likely culprit.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- There's new and potentially disturbing information concerning early coronavirus testing procedures, as some of the tests conducted by the CDC were likely contaminated, according to an investigation.



The possible contamination was likely what delayed the CDC's distribution of the tests during the height of the pandemic.



A spokesperson with the Department of Health and Human Services concedes that one of the mixtures was the likely culprit.



The spokesperson adds that the contamination did not cause any false positive or negative results.



MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE


abc7NY Phase Tracker:





COVID-19 Help, Information. Stimulus and Business Updates


UPDATES


New York City


New Jersey


Long Island


Westchester and Hudson Valley



Connecticut


REOPENING INFORMATION



What's Open, What's Closed


Reopening New York State


Reopening New Jersey


Reopening Connecticut



RELATED INFORMATION


Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News


Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus



Total count of NYC, Long Island COVID-19 cases based on patient address



Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.