False controversy has been generated online with claims that PCR tests are being revoked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The rumours falsely claim that PCR tests have been proven to be unreliable and confuse SARS-CoV-2 with influenza. In reality, PCR tests are the ‘gold standard’ for detecting COVID-19, and modern ones can also detect and differentiate between it and influenza. The AP has fact-checked this claim.