#1: How is Covid-19 detected?
Hello Guys!
In this post I would like to simplify the scientific procedure that is widely being used today around the world to identify virus in patients. So let me dive right in:
This method is called the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT — PCR). Well this might sound complex, but let me break it down. The main purpose of this test is to identify if there any viral genetic material that may be present in the swabs extracted from the throat, nose or the sputum (the mucous produced by the lower part of the respiratory tract).
The virus exists in small concentrations in the form of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) in the samples. In order to identify the viral material, it should be converted from RNA to the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) form, which is a more stable form to perform further tests. This conversion is done via process called Reverse Transcription, which is simply the process through which RNA is converted into DNA.
After the conversion, the copies of these viral DNA needs to be increased, or amplified. Now you may ask the purpose of this step. This step is crucial since the genetic material in the samples is present in small concentration, and in order to effectively identify the presence of the viral genetic material, the number of copies must be increased. This is done through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) which amplifies the viral DNA. With the increase in concentration of the viral DNA, a dye is added such that it transitions to a fluorescent colour indicating the presence of the virus.
Currently, this procedure is widely utilized and it takes a few hours to obtain the results. But the downside is that this procedure, if incorrectly done, may produce false negatives which means that the test might indicate an infected person as being healthy.
In my next post, I will be exploring another method that detects and possibly treats the virus.
For a more scientific in-depth analysis refer to this website: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-how-coronavirus-tests-work-and-who-offers-them/
