COVID-19 and PCR Testing | FastLab

 COVID-19 and PCR testing

The nasal swab PCR test for COVID-19 is an accurate and reliable test for diagnosing COVID-19. A positive test means you probably have COVID-19. A negative test means you probably did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

What is a PCR test?

PCR stands for a polymerase chain reaction. It is a test used to detect genetic material from a specific organism, such as a virus. The test detects the presence of a virus if you have the virus at the time of the test. The test can also detect fragments of the virus if you are no longer infected.

What is a COVID-19 PCR test?

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 is a molecular test that looks at your upper respiratory tract sample for genetic material (ribonucleic acid or RNA) from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Scientists use PCR technology to convert small amounts of RNA from samples into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is replicated until SARS-CoV-2 is detectable. The PCR test has been the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 since its approval in February 2020, and it is accurate and reliable.

Who should get tested for COVID-19?

Your healthcare provider may recommend testing for COVID-19 if you have any of the following symptoms:

Fever or chills.

Cough.

Shortness of breath or trouble breathing.

Fatigue.

Muscle or body aches.

Headache.

The recent loss of taste or smell.

Sore throat.

Constipation or runny nose.

Nausea or vomiting.

Diarrhea.

Not all people with COVID-19 develop symptoms. And not all symptomatic people develop all of the symptoms listed above. Please contact your doctor if you feel unwell during the COVID-19 pandemic - even if you have been vaccinated.

TEST DETAILS.

The COVID-19 PCR Test consists of three major steps:

Sample collection: a healthcare provider collects material from your nose with a swab. A swab is a soft tip on a long, flexible stick that is inserted into your nose. There are different types of nasal swabs, such as nasal swabs, which are used to take a sample directly in the nostrils, and nasopharyngeal swabs, which are inserted further into the nasal cavity to take a sample. Both types of swabs are sufficient to collect material for COVID-19 PCR testing. After collection, the swab is sealed in a tube and then sent to a laboratory.

Extraction: when a laboratory scientist receives the sample, he or she isolates (extracts) the genetic material from the rest of the sample.

PCR: PCR then involves the use of special chemicals and enzymes, as well as a PCR machine called a thermal cycler. With each heating and cooling cycle, the amount of desired genetic material in the test tube is increased (amplified). After many cycles, there are millions of copies of a small portion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus genetic material in the test tube. One of the chemicals in the test tube produces a fluorescent light when SARS-CoV-2 is present in the sample. Once the sample is sufficiently amplified, the PCR instrument can detect this signal. The scientists use special software to interpret the signal as a positive test result.