tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 24;21(8). pii: E3004. doi: 10.3390/ijms21083004.
RT-qPCR Testing of SARS-CoV-2: A Primer.
Bustin SA[SUP]1[/SUP], Nolan T[SUP]2,[/SUP][SUP]3[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
Testing for the presence of coronavirus is an essential diagnostic tool for monitoring and managing the current COVID-19 pandemic. The only reliable test in current use for testing acute infection targets the genome of SARS-CoV-2, and the most widely used method is quantitative fluorescence-based reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Despite its ubiquity, there is a significant amount of uncertainty about how this test works, potential throughput and reliability. This has resulted in widespread misrepresentation of the problems faced using this test during the current COVID-19 epidemic. This primer provides simple, straightforward and impartial information about RT-qPCR.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; SARS; pandemic; real-time fluorescence PCR; reverse transcription
PMID:32344568DOI:10.3390/ijms21083004
Free full text
RT-qPCR Testing of SARS-CoV-2: A Primer.
Bustin SA[SUP]1[/SUP], Nolan T[SUP]2,[/SUP][SUP]3[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
Testing for the presence of coronavirus is an essential diagnostic tool for monitoring and managing the current COVID-19 pandemic. The only reliable test in current use for testing acute infection targets the genome of SARS-CoV-2, and the most widely used method is quantitative fluorescence-based reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Despite its ubiquity, there is a significant amount of uncertainty about how this test works, potential throughput and reliability. This has resulted in widespread misrepresentation of the problems faced using this test during the current COVID-19 epidemic. This primer provides simple, straightforward and impartial information about RT-qPCR.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; SARS; pandemic; real-time fluorescence PCR; reverse transcription
PMID:32344568DOI:10.3390/ijms21083004
Free full text