What your Covid-19 test result means

The RT-PCR test involves collecting samples from an individual’s nose or mouth using a cotton swab.

The Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technology is recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our Health Ministry for the confirmation of a diagnosis of Covid-19.

It permits the detection of minute quantities of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19. Its utility is helpful provided its accuracy and limitations are understood.