How is a corona virus tested? Know its complete process.

Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly in the world. along with this there are much doubts in the minds of people about the covid-19. Let us give you complete information about it.

How is the covid-19 testing done?

If you suspect covid-19 or have symptoms of it- such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, difficulty breathing, and others first of all, you should get a doctor to be checked. Any hospital can do this check-up. You can take it. If the doctor feels that the case is of corona, they will recommend an investigation. The ICMR has instructed that samples of the corona suspect should be taken from home, so that they do not come into contact with each other. The instructs them to take precautions and necessary safety measures when taking samples to test.

Corona test includes the following tests

Swab test: the test in which the lab takes a sample from a cotton swab from inside the throat and/or nose is termed as swab test.

Nasal aspirate: The virus test lab collects a sample after examining the solution in your nose and examines it.

Tracheal aspirate : The examiner collects a specimen from the lungs using a thin tube called a bronchoscope.

VII test: In this test examiner collects a sample from the lungs or from the nose using swab.

Blood test: After collecting all such samples, they analyzes according to the corona virus. They are blanket tested for all types of covid-19 viruses.

What is the corona virus diagnostic test?

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) states that only in a reputed lab should conduct the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The examiners performs PCR tests at the intake of samples of throat, respiratory fluid, and saliva of mouth. such tests also detects Influenza A, influenza B and H1N1 viruses.

According to doctors, there are two places behind the nose and throat where the virus is more likely to be present. The swabs picks up these cells. Then they put the swab into the solution and the cells come out. Experts uses these Swab tests to match the genetic material found in samples with the genetic code of the corona virus.

What is a PCR test ?

Patients suspected of corona infection are tested first for polymerase chain reaction test (PCR). It is a technique that makes copies of a segment of DNA. Polymerase refers to enzymes that make copies of DNA. Chain reaction means how they copy the pieces of DNA, one is copied into two, two is copied into four. American biochemist Kerry Mullis won the Nobel Price for Chemistry in 1993 invention of the PCR technique.

SARS-COV-2 is a virus made of RNA. generally needs to be converted into DNA. For this, the technique involves a process called reverse transcription. A ‘reverse transcriptase’ enzyme converts RNA into DNA. experts then make and amplifies the Copies of DNA. A fluorescent DNA binding dye called a “probe” indicates the presence of the virus. For instance This test also differentiates SARS-COV-2 from other viruses.

How long does the test result take?

Because the experts performs these tests to detect incubation of the virus and its gene sequence, the process of testing takes a little time. As a result Many laboratories send reports within 10 hours, while many take longer than this.

How this test being conducted in India?

Senior Professor of NIMHANS Dr. S. V Ravi told Indian Express that two-stage real time PCR is being done to test SARS-COV-2 in India. In the first phase, they detect common genetic elements of the corona virus, which can be found in the sample.

The second phase tests specific genes that are present only in the SARS-COV-2 virus.

Dr. Ravi pointed out that in the beginning of March every lab tested any type of corono virus, but only National Institute of Virology, Pune used to confirm PCR testing results.

Dr. Ravi informed, National Institute of Virology(NIV) Pune has now sent this technique to all laboratories so that need to go to Pune to test the samples doesn’t arise. This it has also reduced the time taken to test the specimen.

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