Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a revolutionary laboratory technique that enables the replication of a specific DNA sequence. Using PCR, millions of copies of a target DNA can be easily synthesized within a short period of time.

Could Ivermectin be an effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2?

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial has recently demonstrated that Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, can reduce in-hospital mortality rate of COVID-19 patients.

11 Jan 2021

Study shows P681H mutation is becoming globally prevalent among SARS-CoV-2 sequences

In a recent bioRxiv preprint study, researchers from the University of Hawaii showed that the S gene of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously mutating according to the sequence and phylogenetic analysis.

10 Jan 2021

New test detects SARS-CoV-2 in less than 5 mins

A fast and accurate virus detection strategy is very crucial to reduce the rate of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogen responsible for COVID-19. The global scientific research community responded to this unprecedented demand in diagnostic testing by developing several detection platforms, the most sensitive of which detect the viral RNA.

10 Jan 2021

Researchers develop a low-cost, saliva-optimized RT-LAMP assay for faster detection of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the shortcomings in emergency response globally and has driven a massive demand for in vitro diagnostic testing technologies. In order to address these issues, researchers from the US recently used the new pH dye LAMPShade Violet (LSV) in RT-LAMP. LSV has better visual contrast between high and low pH and a stronger inflection point, both of which enable easy interpretation of results and reduces ambiguity.

8 Jan 2021

A paper-based sensor for detecting COVID-19

News-Medical talks to Dipanjan Pan about the development of a paper-based electrochemical sensor that can detect COVID-19 in less than five minutes.

5 Jan 2021

Middle-aged adults with comorbidities high-risk category for COVID-19-related mortality in Mexican study

Researchers from Mexico demonstrate how they calculated age-stratified COVID-19 case fatality rates, years of life lost (YLL), and relative risk for 9 comorbidities and 23 comorbidity combinations in a retrospective study.

5 Jan 2021

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 NTD-directed antibodies are protective against lethal infection

As the world struggles to contain the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for over 1.6 million deaths and 76 million infections globally, researchers are trying to pin down the determinants of lethality, of infectivity and of protection. Such data would help contain its spread and develop preventive and therapeutic antivirals and vaccines. A new preprint that appeared recently on the bioRxiv* server describes the high degree of protection afforded by antibodies that target the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the virus.

24 Dec 2020

COVID-19 contact tracing ineffective without timely testing and isolation, study says

A new study by Canada-based researchers has showed that contact tracing is not effective if testing and isolation are delayed.

21 Dec 2020

Study confirms the feasibility of RT-qPCR on extraction-free inactivated SARS-CoV-2 samples

A new paper reports superior results using an alternative test protocol for RT-qPCR testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

21 Dec 2020

Pooled COVID-19 testing methods could detect outbreaks in schools, says study

A team of researchers at Tufts University, USA, has found that pool testing in schools and universities can identify COVID-19 patients. This way, schools can immediately report the case, refer the staff to health departments, and conduct contact tracing.

21 Dec 2020

COVID-19 spread in cities driven by socioeconomically weaker groups, study finds

Researchers in Sweden have conducted a study showing that the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within cities is driven by socioeconomically weaker and high-mobility groups. They used Basel, Switzerland as their case study.

21 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in serum associated with poor prognosis and high mortality

A new preprint indicates the direct correlation between the presence of detectable viral RNA loads in serum, and clinical severity and death.

21 Dec 2020

Cross-reactive coronavirus antibodies shape COVID-19 convalescent plasma functionality

The onset of the current COVID-19 pandemic revealed the seventh known pathogenic human coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

21 Dec 2020

AOAC INTERNATIONAL issues Certificates of Validation for three test kits that detect SARS-CoV-2

AOAC INTERNATIONAL announced today that it has issued Certificates of Validation for three proprietary test kits that detect SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 illness, on environmental surfaces.

18 Dec 2020

Higher COVID-19 mortality among certain groups in Colombia linked to structural inequalities

Researchers at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in Bogotá, Colombia, provided evidence of socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 deaths in terms of age, sex, ethnicity, type of health insurance regime, and socioeconomic status.

18 Dec 2020

Rapid no-frills detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva with LAMP-Cas13

A new paper that appeared as a preprint on the medRxiv* server in December 2020 describes a nucleic acid test validated on saliva samples.

18 Dec 2020

Rapid point-of-care lateral flow assay to assess the neutralizing activity of plasma against SARS-CoV-2

A new paper describes the development and validation of a rapid test to measure the neutralizing activity of serum against COVID-19 using a drop of blood.

18 Dec 2020

Continued vigilance is required in England following exit from second lockdown

Researchers in the UK have presented data from the latest in a series of community surveys assessing the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in England.

17 Dec 2020

High presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in PCR test can predict future symptomatic disease

A new study by researchers at the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden shows that testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid can help in containing the virus spread. Detecting the presence of high amounts of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid predicts future symptomatic disease, they found.

17 Dec 2020

$3.7 million NIH grant supports development of biosensor technology for diagnosing viral diseases

For over ten years, Ali Yanik has been working to develop novel biosensor technology to provide rapid, low-cost testing for disease diagnostics and precision medicine.

16 Dec 2020

Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

Further Reading

Could Ivermectin be an effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2?

Study shows P681H mutation is becoming globally prevalent among SARS-CoV-2 sequences

New test detects SARS-CoV-2 in less than 5 mins

Researchers develop a low-cost, saliva-optimized RT-LAMP assay for faster detection of SARS-CoV-2

A paper-based sensor for detecting COVID-19

Middle-aged adults with comorbidities high-risk category for COVID-19-related mortality in Mexican study

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 NTD-directed antibodies are protective against lethal infection

COVID-19 contact tracing ineffective without timely testing and isolation, study says

Study confirms the feasibility of RT-qPCR on extraction-free inactivated SARS-CoV-2 samples

Pooled COVID-19 testing methods could detect outbreaks in schools, says study

COVID-19 spread in cities driven by socioeconomically weaker groups, study finds

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in serum associated with poor prognosis and high mortality

Cross-reactive coronavirus antibodies shape COVID-19 convalescent plasma functionality

AOAC INTERNATIONAL issues Certificates of Validation for three test kits that detect SARS-CoV-2

Higher COVID-19 mortality among certain groups in Colombia linked to structural inequalities

Rapid no-frills detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva with LAMP-Cas13

Rapid point-of-care lateral flow assay to assess the neutralizing activity of plasma against SARS-CoV-2

Continued vigilance is required in England following exit from second lockdown

High presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in PCR test can predict future symptomatic disease

$3.7 million NIH grant supports development of biosensor technology for diagnosing viral diseases

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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