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No, PCR is not an antibody test. It amplifies DNA or RNA sequences which are known to exist in the virus. If enough unique sequences are found the test is pos
by jhayward 7y ago
No, PCR is not an antibody test. It amplifies DNA or RNA sequences which are known to exist in the virus. If enough unique sequences are found the test is positive.
- chiefalchemist 7y agoRight. Thanks for clarifying. To clarify further, it doesn't actually test for the virus. It tests for DNA / RNA presence. It's a proxy. Not being critical, etc. Simply nailing down loose ends.
- jhayward 7y ago> it doesn't actually test for the virus. It tests for DNA / RNA presence The virus is nothing but DNA or RNA. The snippet testing establishes a statistical baseline that rules in the presence of the specific dna/rna of the virus to within the required certainty. In other words, you don't have to feel every inch of an elephant to know for sure you've got a hold of one. Just enough features to make it unique to just elephants.