If you are planning to get a PCR test near me, it is important to first understand what this test is all about. A PCR test is used to directly screen for the presence of viral RNA, which is detectable in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease are present. What this simply means is that a PCR test can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early on in their illness.
When you go for Covid-19 PCR testing, substances known as reverse transcriptase or DNA polymerase will be added to a nasopharyngeal sample in a laboratory. These substances work to make many copies of any viral RNA that may be present make sure that there is enough copies of the RNA present to signal a positive result. Specifically designed primers and probes will attach themselves to sequences of the genetic code of the virus in order to signal that a pathogen has been found.
A PCR test near me gives a good indication of who is infected. The infected people can be isolated, and medical professionals can get in contact with people they have been in touch with so they can be quarantined too, just in case. This is a true advantage of the current major diagnostic tests, as you can break the transmission chain and get a much clearer picture of what is happening.
PCR testing can be scaled to screen vast swathes of nasopharyngeal swab samples from within a population, something that will help public health officials get a clearer picture of the spread of Covid-19 or a related disease.
But even with the benefits that PCR testing has, it still has its caveats. These types of Covid-19 test are supposed to be sent away to a lab for analysis, which means that it can take days for people to find out their results.
For more things to know before getting a PCR test near me, visit our website at https://www.harleymedic.co.uk/