3 COVID-19 PCR 檢測的關鍵步驟

PCR 檢測一直是診斷 COVID-19 的黃金標準檢測, 準確可靠. COVID-19 PCR 檢測分為三個關鍵步驟:

• 樣品採集: 醫療保健提供者使用拭子收集您鼻子中發現的呼吸道物質. 棉籤是長條上的柔軟尖端, 可以插入鼻子的柔性棒. There are different types of nose swabs, including nasal swabs that collect a sample immediately inside your nostrils and nasopharyngeal swabs that go further into the nasal cavity for collection. Either type of swab is sufficient for collecting material for the COVID-19 PCR test. 收藏後, the swab is sealed in a tube and then sent to a laboratory.
• 萃取: When a laboratory scientist receives the sample, they isolate (extract) genetic material from the rest of the material in the sample.
• 聚合酶鏈反應: The PCR step then uses special chemicals and enzymes and a PCR machine called a thermal cycler. Each heating and cooling cycle increases (amplifies) the amount of the targeted genetic material in the test tube. After many cycles, millions of copies of a small portion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s genetic material are present in the test tube. One of the chemicals in the tube produces a fluorescent light if SARS-CoV-2 is present in the sample. Once amplified enough, the PCR machine can detect this signal. Scientists use special software to interpret the signal as a positive test result.