"Since no quantified virus isolates of 2019-nCoV were available for CDC use at the time the test was developed and this study conducted, assays designed for detection of 2019-nCoV RNA were tested with characterized stocks of in vitro transcribed full length RNA"
https://www.fda.gov/media/134922/download
"Since no quantified virus isolates of 2019-nCoV were available for CDC use at the time the test was developed and this study conducted, assays designed for detection of 2019-nCoV RNA were tested with characterized stocks of in vitro transcribed full length RNA"
Yep, never been isolated. Straight from the CDC.
Now explain it to every moron who downvoted my original comment. Fucking Branch Covidians everywhere...