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• First EQA of SARS-CoV-2 test covered 93 laboratories of CDCs in Zhejiang Province. • Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus culture was used to prepare the EQA panels. • 36 distinct nucleic acid extraction and RT-PCR methods were reported in this EQA. • Overall laboratories providing confidence in the results of new molecular tests. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the rapid expansion of laboratories that conduct SARS-CoV-2 tests. A provincial external quality assessment (EQA) scheme on SARS-CoV-2 tests was organized by Zhejiang Provincial CDC to assess the accuracy of the tests in individual CDC municipal and county laboratories in Zhejiang Province, China. Three positive samples in high, medium, and low concentrations, respectively, were prepared using the serial dilutions from the culture with the viral titer concentration of 1×106.3 TCID50/mL, and one negative sample were included. A total of 93 laboratories participated, contributing results from 36 distinct combinations of nucleic acid extraction methods and PCR reagents. There was 100% concordance among all laboratories for all EQA samples, and no false-positive or false-negative results were observed. The EQA survey provides confidence in the identification of infected individuals or asymptomatic populations and assurance for clinical and public health decision-making based on test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]