3 ms·

Can it be used to detect a virus from a sample of say salvia?

• mtu 6y ago
  You'll need to run RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcriptase Quantitative PCR) to detect Covid-19 viral sequences. Simple thermocyclers allow us to amplify sequences but it can't do measurement like a Quantitative PCR machine.
  • bgitarts 6y ago
    Is this beyond the relm of what is possible with open source parts today?
    • lbotos 6y ago
      No you just need more of those parts, and depending on how much manual labor you want to be doing a different number and configuration. process is: -take sample -amplify via thermocycler -validate presence That last step can be done a few different ways depending on what you are looking for and how much time/money you have. (I'm just a hobbyist so not getting into specifics to avoid misspeaking but I'm confident it's possible via open tech for the 'crude' methods -- more advanced are more proprietary i'm sure.)
  • sannee 6y ago
    I know that qPCR is preferred for diagnostics, but is it actually necessary? As in, will the false positive/false negative rates suffer enough for standard RT-PCR to be useless?
    • virusduck 6y ago
      No. qPCR is, well, quantitative, so it gives more information. Additionally, it requires less pipetting, and the data is easier to report. All of these things make it more desirable for diagnostics.