Fast PCR test for the diagnosis of SARS COV-2: Necessity, success and challenges

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has kept the whole world on a halt. Even after two years of emergence, we could not contain the infection due to its highly transmittable nature. Early and fast detection of the causative SARS-CoV-2 virus is necessary to take proper steps to isolate the patient and/or medications on time. RT-PCR is the most conventional diagnostic method to detect SARS-CoV-2 that requires appropriate samples as well as trained resources for smooth operation. Most importantly, a longer turnaround time remains a major challenge on the way to mass testing for SARS-CoV-2. The newly developed fast PCR techniques eliminate several limitations ofthe previous RT-PCR, capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 from the patient sample within 30 minutes. This study focuses on two fast PCR instruments Cobas Liat and MIC qPCR to assess the success, necessity, and challenges of the fast PCR methods for intervening in the pandemic.