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COVID-19 Real-Time RT–PCR Testing Explained
Since the emergence of COVID-19 in late 2019, the gold standard in testing for the disease has been a nuclear-derived technique: real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, or real-time RT–PCR. Fast and accurate, real-time RT–PCR has been critical in detecting, tracking and studying COVID-19.
But what is it, and how does it work? Let us explain.