Testing – When to perform a PCR test for coronavirus?
The test should be performed in case of suspected contact with a person with a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) and in persons with symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The PCR test for coronavirus involves the isolation of particles of viral genetic material from patient material, which are then amplified, analysed and tested.
One of the most dangerous characteristics of the SARS CoV-2 virus is its high infectivity. It is very easily spread by droplets, i.e. by the presence of small water particles exhaled by humans and spread over long distances by coughing or sneezing. Another problem is the relatively long incubation period, during which the patient (despite the absence of disease symptoms) can transmit infection with this virus to others.
This period usually lasts from 2 to 14 days The standard quarantine period after contact with an infected person is 14 days. This is done to eliminate the risk of transmission of this pathogen to other people.
The disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus presents mild clinical symptoms in most cases. However, occasionally, especially in elderly people with comorbidities, COVID-19 can lead to severe respiratory failure secondary to acute pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
