Social media users have claimed that the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collecting and analyzing samples of people’s DNA through the genomic sequencing of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests. This allegation is misleading, however. SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing efforts are a procedure where the genetic makeup of a virus is analyzed – not of the carrier’s genes – to monitor and detect new strains. A CDC spokesperson told Reuters these samples do not include personal identifying information.
On Feb. 16, the CDC tweeted an earlier explainer by WIRED magazine on how nose swabs are used to detect the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, through a process called genomic sequencing ( here ). “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: bit.ly/3sJOkoC @WIRED @CDC_AMD,” the tweet reads. ( here )
In the clip, Duncan MacCannell, Chief Science Officer at the CDC’s Office of Advanced Molecular Detection, is seen explaining that laboratories use a method called amplicon sequencing ( here ), ( here ), in which small pieces of the genome are amplified by PCR sequences and put back together to compare with other genomes.
As previously addressed by Reuters ( here ), genomic sequencing decodes the genes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome to tell scientists which variant might be present in the specimen, allowing them to monitor mutations and learn more about the virus ( here ).
Some users reacting to the CDC’s tweet, however, appear to have inaccurately interpreted that this genomic surveillance means the CDC is “storing” or “harvesting” people’s DNA.
“CDC admits to storing your DNA via the C19 nasal swabs. … seems another so called “conspiracy theory” comes true again ….. Unfuckingbelivable !!,” one user commented. ( here )
“What the fuck? Was there any consent prior before the government forced DNA harvesting?” another one wrote. ( here )
“Thank you everyone for "volunteering" your DNA to the biggest genomic database ever created,” a third user commented. ( here )
“Did the @CDCgov get permission from people to take their DNA???” wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ( here ).
While COVID-19 testing samples like nose swabs do contain human DNA, these genomic sequencing assays “specifically target and amplify the virus genome to create an efficient process,” Dr. Nathan Grubaugh, an expert in genomic epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, told Reuters via email.
“So not only is the human DNA not targeted for sequencing for ethical reasons, it is not included because it makes it easier to sequence the virus. Any human DNA that does end up in the sequencing data is subsequently removed bioinformatically and is not stored in any public repositories,” Grubaugh said.
Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance is conducted “with de-identified and coded samples, so they cannot be tracked back to individual people.”
Addressing the mix-up, Scott Pauley, a spokesman for the CDC told Reuters via email said: “Laboratories around the country examine viral sequences from positive samples which contain no personal identifying information. CDC analyzes SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences from these labs to identify and compare variants, monitor their spread and evaluate the potential impact on medical treatments and vaccines.”
The CDC responded to its original tweet with an additional clarification on Feb. 17 ( here )
VERDICT
Misleading. Claims that the CDC is “harvesting” and “analyzing” people’s DNA through the genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 are inaccurate. These efforts are focused on analyzing the genetic makeup of the virus, not of people’s genes, to monitor and detect new strains of SARS-CoV-2.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.
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