Globally the COVID – 19 cases are growing rapidly. One of the important factors in controlling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe is testing, and then isolating the suspected individuals to prevent the spread of disease.
There are two principal methods of checking for infection caused by corona virus, one is a sensitive test which uses a technique called RT-PCR to look for virus RNA. You can detect as little as one particle of the virus in swabs taken from inside the mouth or nose.The other being a blood test that measures the antibody responses to virus in blood serum. As these antibodies testing takes time many countries adopted to RT-PCR which is rapid and sensitive.
Why RT-PCR test?
The RT-PCR technique in real time is highly responsive and accurate, and can provide a reliable diagnosis as quickly as three hours, though laboratories typically take between 6 and 8 hours on average. Compared to other available methods of virus isolation, RT-PCR is significantly faster in real time and has a lower propensity for contamination or errors because the whole process can be performed inside a closed tube.
How good is RT-PCR test?
The RT-PCR is sensitive and precise. Nonetheless, once you have recovered from the infection the virus will be removed and these tests will no longer be able to tell you whether you have been infected.
In order to detect past infections which are essential for understanding the development and spread of the virus, it is not possible to use RT-PCR in real time as viruses are only present in the body for a limited time period. There is a need for other methods to identify, monitor and research past infections, particularly those that may have formed and spread without symptoms.
