Using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in COVID-19 Testing

Testing is key to controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but how is it done? This animation from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center takes an authoritative look “under the hood” of COVID-19 testing. You will learn about a clever method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which amplifies the virus genetic “fingerprint” to detect as few as several virus particles present in a throat swab or other patient sample.

[tharbf]

If you don't understand this, don't say it's wrong.

[ShakespeareCafe]

RT = Real Time PCR, or better yet, quantitative qPCR. Although your usage is correct with RT reverse transcriptase to produce the cDNA this real time or quantitative PCR methodology is more general and can be used with dsDNA as well.

[drhgbiology]

Captions please! Automatic captions are not considered accessible and prevent me from showing or assigning it to students.

[LaughingMan]

What they don't mention is that the more cycles you use during this process, not only does your % of false positives increase, but the real positives you detect at higher cycle thresholds are more and more likely to be non-viable (as in the person from which the sample is taken cannot spread the virus and they are not ill).

Also, the test detects RNA fragments of SARS-COV-2, COVID-19 is a disease, not a virus (CoronaVirusDisease-19).

[shafthespaceegg]

Great video I tried to make a video explaining this but it was just just a bunch of pieces of other YouTube videos mashed together this is much more professionally done

[james.a.h.]

Does pcr test only detect Sars cov 2 or will it show positive if other virus is found??

[nurilha]

Why is there not 2^45 virus after 45 cycles? Why is there 2, 20, 200? From what I understand it should be 0 or 2^45?

[csababauer]

According to this video: The second primer DNA bonds to the Complementary DNA the same way as the virus binds. So how can you distinguish the virus from the second primer? it is chemically the same RNA!

[PatrickSavalle]

Where is the paper of that controlled study mentioned in the end?

[ISTARI]

I don't understand why the original rna strand needs to be removed. Why can we just amplify the cdna

[leixiao]

Why use N gene? This could also detect SARS (not SARS CoV2) right?

[nibbletouch]

Why do tests not fail if no DNA is in the sample?
Negative results are issued even if the swab was not used.

[heksogen]

2 virus molecule per what? Per ml of blood?

[LEONLIII]

There are so many holes in this. How does amplifying a section of a gene, by replicating it multiple times, make it easier to see? Do they line up in some kind of neat uniform matrix fractal?

[ISTARI]

Can someone explain why can't we just amplify the cdna. Why do you have to remove the rna?

[phonixsolomon]

How do you make the primers?
And why they don't get waste with all that cycles?
How you replicate the primers?

[hanatrisnaandini]

It should be tested by RT PCR or we can use any other type of PCR for covid 19 identify?

[TiagoSantos-ooov]

Does this mean that if we dont have the virus, the PCR process isnt necessary? Am I thinking right? I would greatly appreciate an answer!

[StevenDelRizzo]

Testing is not key to controlling the spread. The flaw in the test generates the necessary panic in the population to consent to any restrictions on freedom.

[beamarie]

Jesus if you have not studied molecular biology, please don't come here to fill the comments section with your idiocy to attempt to help your hoax theory. As a molecular biologist and statistician, the comments make me lose faith in humanity.