![]() PCR tests must be done by a health care provider, and they don’t produce immediate results, which means you may be waiting a few days to know if you’re positive or negative. While a PCR test is the preferred method of detecting COVID-19, it’s not always the easiest test to get. “PCR tests are more reliable and accurate due to testing the specific genetic material of the virus, eliminating the interference from other viruses,” said Heather Seyko, a Laboratory Services manager for OSF HealthCare. ![]() The PCR test doesn’t alter your genetic material – DNA – in any way, and your test provider isn’t able to do anything with your DNA besides tell if you’re positive with COVID-19. Even if you have a small trace of the virus in your system, the PCR test will detect it. Amplifying RNA helps to make even small traces of the COVID-19 virus visible in the test sample. The PCR test takes a sample of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and “amplifies” it with the help of lab technologies. Both tests require a sample from the patient, usually a nasal swab. Two types of COVID-19 tests are popular: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and the antigen test, a.k.a. What’s not so clear is which kind of COVID-19 test is the best. The message is clear: Get tested, as it’s one of our best defenses against stopping the spread of COVID-19.
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