Procedure and Results with RT-PCR test for Coronavirus, Polymerase chain reaction or PCR is generally used to perform diagnostic tests and detect the presence of molecules in your body. It enables you to know about the viruses responsible for different diseases such as – African swine fever, Ebola, HIV, foot and mouth disease. Both RT-PCR tests and antigen tests are different kinds of tests done to diagnose the presence of coronavirus. With Real-Time RT–PCR test in London, you can identify COVID-19 virus since it has Ribonucleic Acid only. The full form of RT-PCR is Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction which is a sensitive method for mRNA detection. It can quantify presence of any pathogen or genetic material of this virus.
Real-Time RT-PCR can be loaded with fluorescent dyes in the form of markers. Real-Time RT-PCR will help investigators, virologists or scientists to evaluate the results without any kind of delay. With RT-PCR test, the presence of COVID-19 virus can be detected after a nasopharyngeal swab gets collected from a patient. It will also detect the virus when viral load seem to be less. The major benefit of Real-Time RT-PCR is that it delivers quick results. Procedure and Results with RT-PCR test for Coronavirus below:
What is RT-PCR Test for COVID-19 virus?
The following are the RT-PCR Test guidelines that can help to diagnose the presence of COVID-19.
Step 1:- The COVID-19 virus occurs in the throat or inside the nose. With RT-PCR Test, the diagnosis process begins through sample collection by swab from your body parts.
Step 2:- The nucleus and cells get lysed by treating them with various chemical solutions. Finally, the sample has RNA and DNA only which is a combination of genetic material of the individual and RNA of virus.
Step 3:- The RNA gets converted into DNA with particular enzyme via reverse transcription. Short fragments of DNA can be added to form a mixture.
Step 4:- If there is presence of virus in your sample at the time of performing private blood tests in London, then the short fragments of DNA deal with viral DNA divisions.
Step 5:- The mixture will be put into an RT–PCR machine which heats and cools it by cycling at different temperatures to ignite chemical reactions. With the help of this procedure, the target sections of viral DNA form new identical copies.
Step 6:- The RT-PCR COVID-19 Test machine performs repeated cycles through the sample. This can help to copy target sections of viral DNA. At the end of each cycle, the number of copies of viral DNA will be doubled. Due to this reason, nearly 35 billion new copies of viral DNA sections from each strand of virus will be generated at the end of the method.
The RT-PCR testing time requires 5 to 10 minutes only though the entire method takes almost 4 to 8 hours.
How will the result be concluded?
After you get new copies of viral DNA, the marker will label and attach with DNA strands. RT-PCR machine gets connected to a computer that will maintain the record of fluorescent dye being released after each step. It allows you to display the result on the screen at the same time. At some point, when fluorescence crosses specific limit, this will confirm the presence of virus. An interesting fact to know is that the fewer the cycles will confirm this virus, the more severe the condition will be. The result of RT-PCR test may either be positive or negative and the test will not detect how and when you are infected with the virus. So, a positive RT-PCR test means you will probably get infected with COVID-19 virus.
The reporting time of RT-PCR test near me may be around 4 to 8 hours. You should take proper care of yourself, as per your doctor’s guidance to avoid spreading the virus. You may also request to get an RT-PCR test online report on your mail.
