Hvad er en PCR-test for coronavirus?
A PCR test is short for polymerase chain reaction. This test is used to detect the coronavirus. The test detects the genetic material of the virus in a patient's blood. The test is ordered if doctors suspect a patient has the coronavirus.
To accurately diagnose the coronavirus, scientists at the National Institutes of Health use a specific set of diagnostics called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR is a technique that uses enzymes naturally present in the body to amplify a viral sample. This amplification process allows doctors to detect subtle changes between infected and uninfected people by examining how the virus-amplified DNA fragments respond to specific different reagents. "PCR amplifications used to diagnose human disease are unique because they use specific primers and end fragments and involve knowledge of the patient's internal anatomy," an NIH press release reads. These unique PCR diagnostics for coronavirus use a reagent called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify DNA.
Hvad er fordelene ved PCR sammenlignet med andre tests?
PCR, short for "polymerase chain reaction," is a powerful technique used to amplify (or make more) DNA present in tiny samples. The PCR portion of modern diagnostic tests is a standard part of antifungal drug diagnosis. It is widely used in coronavirus diagnostic laboratories because PCR can amplify the genetic material (or genetic code) of a virus or bacteria.
Hvorfor bruge PCR i stedet for andre metoder til at diagnosticere vira?
-Fordi præ-digitale teknikker som væskekromatografi (LC) og gaskromatografi (GC) kan bevare mange karakteristika ved en prøve, herunder ændringer i ekstraherbart DNA. Dette bevarer dataene til videre brug i forskning eller medicinsk forskning.
- Endnu en forskel. LC og GC er arbejdskrævende og kan være dyre. PCR, på den anden side, kan udføres i en stue eller hospitals cafeteria. Den er også ret enkel at betjene, hvilket gør den til det bedste valg til at isolere positive prøver til yderligere undersøgelse i kliniske omgivelser.
- En type PCR, der har fået meget opmærksomhed på det seneste, er omvendt-faseamplifikation (RPA). Det er en udvidelse af LC, der hjælper med at fremskynde hastigheden og effektiviteten af diagnosticering af nogle bakterielle og virale infektioner.
