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PCR ( polymerase chain reaction ) test is a molecular done with the amplification method or reproduces viral or bacterial genetic material. PCR tests are often performed to detect the presence of viruses or bacteria that cause certain diseases.

One of the sampling methods for PCR testing is a swab test. Examples of diseases that can be diagnosed through PCR tests using the sampling method of the swab test are COVID-19.

Apart from swab tests, sampling for PCR tests will be adjusted to the type of disease you want to diagnose. Several types of samples that can be used for PCR tests are blood, urine, sputum, and even cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples.

Purpose and Indications of the PCR Test

As mentioned above, PCR tests can be used to detect the presence of genetic material present in every living thing, including viruses and bacteria. The PCR test's ability to detect genetic material can be used to detect a number of infectious diseases, such as:

• Gonorrhea
• Chlamydia
• Lyme disease
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Cytomegalovirus infection
• h uman papillomavirus (HPV)
• Infection h uman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Hepatitis C
• COVID-19

Preparation before taking the PCR test

There is no special preparation before the PCR test. However, the patient will take samples with a special method, which is then sent to the laboratory to go through the extraction, purification and PCR process.

Patients who undergo the PCR test need to be told how long the results of this examination will take. Exit. Patients with infectious diseases that can be transmitted through droplets, such as COVID-19 or whooping cough, must comply with existing health protocols while waiting for PCR results.

Patients who follow PCR tests with swab sampling (Swab test) need to be briefed that this procedure can cause discomfort, both during the process and afterward.

Sampling Procedure for Testing PCR

One of the sampling methods to be examined by PCR is through a swab test. Swab tests can be done on the nose, the channel between the nose and throat (nasopharynx), or the channel between the mouth and throat (oropharynx).

The following are the steps for the swab test t that will be undertaken by the patient:

• The doctor will ask the patient to remove the mask and blow nose if there is.
• The doctor will ask the patient to tilt his head to make it easier the process of taking a mucus sample.
• The doctor will insert a swab that resembles a long cotton bud up the nose and into the nasopharynx (the top of the throat which is located at the back of the nose).
• The doctor will rotate or move the swab several times (about 15 seconds) so that the mucus in the nasopharynx sticks to the swab.
• After the mucus sampling process is complete, the doctor will slowly pull the swab and the patient will be asked to wear the mask again.

Apart from the swab test, the sample for the test PCR can also be taken from blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid. This will be adjusted to the type of disease that you want to detect through the PCR test.

The doctor and medical team will provide directions and carry out sampling procedures according to examination needs. If the sample needed is a blood sample, a blood sample will be drawn using a special needle.

If a urine sample is needed, the patient will be asked to collect urine in a special tube, which is then sent to the laboratory for analysis. Especially for cerebrospinal fluid sampling, the doctor will perform the lumbar puncture procedure.

After the Sampling Procedure for PCR Test

After the sampling process is complete, it will be done sending samples for further processing and reading by the PCR tool. If the sample is taken by swab test, after the process of taking the mucus sample, the doctor will insert a swab tool into the plastic tube, then seal the plastic tube tightly.

This plastic tube will be put into a special hazardous waste (biohazard) tube and taken to the laboratory for further processing and put into a PCR device to obtain results. PCR test results can be known within 1-2 days.

The PCR test involves 3 processes, starting from sampling, extracting genetic material from the sample, amplification or multiplying of the genetic material, and reading the results.

The PCR test result will be either positive or negative. A positive result means that the patient is confirmed to have the disease. On the other hand, a negative result means that the patient does not have the disease.

However, in some cases, the PCR test can show a false positive or a false negative. False positive means that the test result is positive, but it is actually negative. Meanwhile, a false negative is the opposite, showing negative when in fact positive.

For example, a false positive result on COVID-19 means that someone who has undergone a PCR test is considered positive for COVID-19, even though he is not infected with the SARS virus- CoV-2. On the other hand, a false negative result states that a person who has undergone a PCR test does not have COVID-19, even though he is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

PCR Test Side Effects

The PCR test is safe for everyone to do and does not cause any side effects. However, when taking the sample, several complaints can arise, such as discomfort in the nose when the doctor inserts the swab or bruising and pain in the injection area when taking blood samples.

Even so, if there is no certain medical condition, these side effects will generally go away on their own.

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