Stick this up your nose

With all countries increasing testing during this global virus pandemic, the year 2020 must be the year that has the most people to have had things shoved up their nose than any before.

Why exactly is it necessary to stick an elephant sized q-tip (cotton bud) up your nose? The answer is that this process is part of a molecular test procedure and this first step, shoving the q-tip up the nose, is looking to capture genetic material (noting that boogers should be cleared away first) that may potentially contain the virus.

The ‘Nasopharyngeal’ swab involves inserting a six inch cotton swab (the big long q-tip) to scrape material from the back nasal cavity. This eye watering procedure does have a level of discomfort, it should be made easier by having the head should be tilted back to make the nasal passages more accessible and the swab is inserted until there is some resistance. Usually at this point its worth waiting with the swab in place or rotating it gently, this allows the potential for collecting a better sample.

The swab is placed in a vial or tube, labelled and then stored for shipment to the laboratory. Once received at a the laboratory the sample is placed in a reactor vial and placed in the PCR Machine.

PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymerase is a word created around 1948 by scientists to describe enzymes (reagent) that catalyze the formation of DNA or RNA from precursor substances (the sample).

The PCR test process is where the sample is reacted with reagent material that breaks open the virus (if it is present) to reveal it’s RNA which then goes through a process of amplification to grow the virus sample to be increased to detectable levels and the test shows positive or negative through the detection of Nucleotides (the molecule which are the basic building blocks for DNA & RNA) specific the SARS COV-2 virus.

SARS CoV-2 stands for SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME Corona Virus 2 and is the official name given to the 2020 Corona Virus or as its being reported COVID 19.

The PCR test is considered the best method for detection of the virus, but it does have its limitations.

Firstly the time it takes to conduct the sample from the patient to the laboratory can be hours to days; meaning…

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