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Hello, I am Critical Care Physician, so my knowledge regarding this subject is quite weak.
I have done a background research (https://www.eurosurveillance.org/con...0.25.3.2000045)
on how first RT-PCR test for Covid19 virus was developed and how genetic sequences of various coronaviruses were compared to target a specific gene unique to Covid19 virus in developing the RT-PCR assay that would be specific for Covid19 virus.
My question is- suppose there is a hypothetical virus (DNA/RNA). While developing an RT-PCR test for this Virus, Is the genome of the Virus compared with Human Genome? Especially RT-PCR assays target a 'specific nucleotide sequence' which is unique to the Virus (and not to the related Viruses from the same family)
However what if this 'specific nucleotide sequence' matches with the Human DNA sequence? ( If it is a RNA virus, RT-PCR assay used to detect this virus could technically detect Human RNA- synthesized by the corresponding human DNA) & vice versa for DNA Virus.
I know that theoretically speaking, the genes targeted in the
RT -PCR assay should not match with the Human Genome, but practically speaking, there could be a possibility that the nucleotide sequences that RT-PCR assays target could match with the Human genome.
What are the chances of RT-PCR assay showing false positive due to Human DNA/RNA and are specific analysis done to compare Whole human Genome while developing a RT-PCR assay?
Any help in answering the question will be much appreciated!
Thank you 🙏
I have done a background research (https://www.eurosurveillance.org/con...0.25.3.2000045)
on how first RT-PCR test for Covid19 virus was developed and how genetic sequences of various coronaviruses were compared to target a specific gene unique to Covid19 virus in developing the RT-PCR assay that would be specific for Covid19 virus.
My question is- suppose there is a hypothetical virus (DNA/RNA). While developing an RT-PCR test for this Virus, Is the genome of the Virus compared with Human Genome? Especially RT-PCR assays target a 'specific nucleotide sequence' which is unique to the Virus (and not to the related Viruses from the same family)
However what if this 'specific nucleotide sequence' matches with the Human DNA sequence? ( If it is a RNA virus, RT-PCR assay used to detect this virus could technically detect Human RNA- synthesized by the corresponding human DNA) & vice versa for DNA Virus.
I know that theoretically speaking, the genes targeted in the
RT -PCR assay should not match with the Human Genome, but practically speaking, there could be a possibility that the nucleotide sequences that RT-PCR assays target could match with the Human genome.
What are the chances of RT-PCR assay showing false positive due to Human DNA/RNA and are specific analysis done to compare Whole human Genome while developing a RT-PCR assay?
Any help in answering the question will be much appreciated!
Thank you 🙏