The presence of Omicron variant in a corona infected person is detected only by RT-PCR test. In fact, the RT-PCR test is unable to detect the S gene present in the Omicron variant and this weakness has become its strength. Neelu Ranjan, New Delhi.
RT-PCR will reveal the infection of Omicron,
Genome sequencing of his sample is currently being done to find out the presence of the Omicron variant in a corona-infected person.
However, the detection of a person being infected with Omicron is known only by RT-PCR test.
In fact, the RT-PCR test is unable to detect the S gene present in the Omicron variant and this weakness has become its strength.
By the way, the Ministry of Health is emphasizing on genome sequencing to confirm Omicron.
According to Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health, the RT-PCR test confirms the infection on the basis of the presence of three specific genes of the corona virus.
These three are the spike (S), enveloped (E) and nucleocapsid (N) genes. It is because of the identification of these three specific genes that the RT-PCR test is considered the standard and the RT-PCR test has been made necessary to confirm the infection even after the antigen test.
In the case of the Omicron variant, the RT-PCR assay identifies the invoked (E) and nucleocapsid (N) genes, but the spike (S) protein is not recognized. The report of the RT-PCR test shows that the spike(s) protein in the sample of the person concerned does not contain the same protein.
Based on this'll, it can be easily told that the person concerned is infected with the Omicron variant of the corona.
The primary reason why the spike(s) gene was not detected in the RT-PCR test is that the omichrome variant has shown the maximum variation. Between 25 and 32 changes have been observed in the spike gene alone.
The identification of all three genes present in the original form of the corona virus was made the basis for thehttps://www.thetechdiscuss.com/2021/12/what-is-sharechat-app-how-to-use-top-5-tools-2021.html RT-PCR test.