There is no specific treatment for the disease in which some of the corona virus infections are found, but that does not mean that there is no point in testing. The isolation of patients and slowing the spread of the epidemic is of utmost importance. Another advantage of the tests is that they make it possible to build a more accurate picture of the number of cases and the way the epidemic spread in the population
By Maureen Fran, professor of molecular biology and virus researcher at the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York. The article was published in The Conversation on March 12, 2020
Who is being tested?
Currently there are two reasons for testing a certain person: the presence of symptoms and exposure to the patient.
The main symptoms of the corona disease are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. They resemble those caused by flu and colds, so a doctor is needed to determine if a test for the corona virus is indeed necessary.
At first, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended testing only people with symptoms who may have been exposed to the virus. But to the surprise of public health officials, no exposure to the virus was found in the investigation of some of the first patients.
This finding raises the possibility that the virus was transmitted to these patients locally, meaning that it passes from person to person easily or that it is also transmitted by people without serious symptoms.
In response, the Center for Disease Control changed its recommendations on March 4 so that any person suffering from symptoms similar to those of Corona can be tested, with a doctor's approval. Since the number of test kits is limited, the Centers for Disease Control encourages doctors to forego tests that are not necessary and to consider before sending a person for testing to what extent the corona disease may endanger him.
At the time of writing these things, there is no specific treatment for the disease. But that doesn't mean there's no point in testing. The isolation of patients and slowing the spread of the epidemic is of utmost importance. Another advantage of the tests is that they make it possible to build a more accurate picture of the number of cases and how the epidemic spread in the population.
How is the test performed?
For the subject, the process is easy and can be done almost anywhere. A swab is taken from deep within the nasal cavities to collect cells from the back of the nose. The sample is sent to the laboratory, where it will be checked whether the cells are infected with the virus.
The same process is used to test for influenza infection.
How is the test performed in the laboratory?
While taking the sample is easy, it is more complicated to determine whether the cells are infected with the virus. The currently used way is by testing the presence of the genetic material of the virus (RNA).
We start by turning the Rana into Dana. In the next step, the obtained DNA is replicated millions of times until a quantity that can be measured with a dedicated device is reached.
If viral genetic material is found in the sample, the answer to the question of whether the subject carries the virus is positive.
The test results are received after 24-72 hours. They are considered accurate and reliable. In any case, the advantage far outweighs the risk of being wrong.
Does everyone really need to be tested?
It is impractical to check every person. That is why most health officials in the developed countries, for example the USA, say that it is important to prioritize the subjects who face the greatest danger: employees of health institutions who have been in contact with patients, people suffering from symptoms in areas where infection rates are high and people aged 65 and over who are suffering from chronic diseases such as heart problems, lung or diabetes. When there are more kits, it will be possible to test others as well.
In addition, there is a need to develop faster tests that do not require special training and special equipment.
The tests allow experts to improve their understanding of the progress of the outbreak and try to predict the impact of the virus on society.
Like any disease outbreak, this global epidemic will end.
Until then, wash your hands thoroughly and try to minimize the risk of exposure.
There is still much to learn about the corona virus. Time will tell if it will disappear from the human population, as happened with the SARS virus in 2004, or if it will become a seasonal disease similar to the flu.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
- The future of the corona virus - in the world and in Israel
- Corona has been declared a worldwide epidemic - what is the difference between a disease outbreak, an epidemic and a global disease?
- No country in the world is prepared to deal with the corona virus, and most of them are unable to receive data in real time
- The Corona epidemic - special coverage on the knowledge website
Thanks to Shushi Bloch for the help in translating the article. If you are also interested in helping to translate articles on the subject of the Corona virus, please contact me through the Facebook page of the Hadaan website or by email at editor@hayadan.org.il
3 תגובות
The numbers are ridiculous and not true in high percentages!
Everyone's personal responsibility!
The tests and their results are a far-reaching assessment!
Did they manage to isolate the virus?
Did they manage to infect someone healthy with the virus (if indeed isolated)?
Can the presence of the RNA in question also appear in other cases?
Does the PCR test test the virus or a genetic sequence that is assumed to be that of the virus?
I am in regular contact with friends in China, mainly in the north (Shenyang and Beijing) but also in the south, east and other places.
No one, including the Chinese themselves, still knows the whole story, and especially the events of the epidemic in Wuhan. The truth is, I doubt we'll ever know everything. But in the meantime, here's Dondale McNeil, the New York Times reporter, with sources that are probably much better than mine, talking about the fight against the spread of the virus.
By the way, to the best of my knowledge, today China produces (and even donates and sells to the world) huge quantities of PCR kits for real-time testing.
https://youtu.be/e3gCbkeARbY