The emergence and spread of the omicron strain of Covid-19 has made people across the world be cautious again. Its infection rate has gone down a lot. However, as per the last week WHO data, it is making approximately 70 000 people lose their life. Health experts say that people all over the globe need to stay very careful. They request people to have an RT PCR test in Greater Noida or in their locality to be confirmed about Covid-19 infection if they feel anything wrong in their bodies. Some people, especially educated ones, have concerns about the detection of the Omicron strain through an RT PCR test. Before moving to the final verdict, please have a look at a few things about the test and the variant.
The RT PCR Test
As a molecular test, health experts and the WHO have made this test essential to detect Covid-19 infection in a person. Since February 2020, it has been in use due to its reference as the gold standard test. And its accuracy and reliability in results. In this test process, the experts take a swab from an individual’s nose for sample collection and isolate the genetic material, which is common in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Further, they amplify the RNA (ribonucleic acid) amount from the collected swab sample with the use of PCR technique.
The Omicron variant
It was 26 November 2021 when the WHO entitled the new variant of Covid-19 as Omicron (B.1, 1.529). South Africa was the country where it was identified first on 24 November 2021 and spotted in more than 50 countries, including India, across the globe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) named it as a variant of concern, as it is highly transmittable.
As per a study, SARS-CoV-2 has around 13 variants. Some of the previous variants were not taken as a variant of concern. However, the Omicron variant is a variant of concern due to its higher mutation rates in comparison with the Delta strain. The Delta variant has 8 mutations till now while the Omicron variant has 32 mutations that are four times higher.
Here you need to keep in mind that the number of mutations has no link to the casualty. Or don’t help in predicting that this variant is more deadly in comparison with the previous one. It can help experts in predicting the transmissibility only. However, the data received till 22 February 2022 state that the Omicron strain is not deadlier in comparison with the Delta strain.
Some data shows that people infected with earlier variants of Covid-19. Have a higher chance of getting infected with this new variant. Vaccines build immunity. And hence, getting vaccinated helps people stay protected from the severity of other health conditions and the Omicron infection, apart from the Delta strain protection. In the current wave of Covid-19 caused by the Omicron strain, health experts across the globe are using. RT PCR test to detect the infection. It is, as they believe, that an RT PCR test results are the most effective way to diagnose patients and detect the infection.
The best and most effective ways for staying safe are avoiding crowded places, maintaining a feet-distance from others, and wearing a facemask well. Further, you need to keep washing/sanitising your hands before touching your face. And the maintenance of good hygiene can help you stay safe from viral, bacterial, and autoimmune infections.
Can an RT-PCR Test Detect the Omicron Stain?
In today’s world, an RT PCR test is a trusted and effective diagnostic tool to detect Covid-19 Test infection. As per leading health experts, the accuracy and detection capability of an. RT PCR test depends on the primers, the chemical constituents that help in the identification. Unfortunately, there is no sound scientifically proven data in this regard. So, it is a really difficult job to say whether an RT PCR test can give a 100% accurate detection report or not.
About Author
