: How virus is distinguished by PCR test (different mutations/types? of sars-cov-2)? I've done web search and did not find anything particular right away. Wikipedia articles are rather lengthy and I was not able to understand

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How virus is distinguished by PCR test (different mutations/types? of sars-cov-2)?
I've done web search and did not find anything particular right away. Wikipedia articles are rather lengthy and I was not able to understand answer to my question.

I've read yesterday there two types of sars-cov-2 found already: www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/coronavirus-chinese-scientists-identify-two-types-covid-19.html
As I've read in numerous places PCR tests are used now for identification of the virus. How does testing differentiates cov-2 from say influenza still considers these two types the same cov-2?

I guess the test looks for some specific region of RNA and that region is same for both cov-2 types but differs from other known viruses.

Is my guess correct? How than they found out about differences - guess again other PCR looking for other regions?

ADDED:
I've read Are virus strains different viruses? and now if the article correct in calling "types" it means these are even more different than strains. Why and can we call them both same sars-cov-2 name? From that answer, from naming picture looks like sars-cov-2 is subtype name.

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