Scientists identify alternative technique to speed up Covid-19 testing

Scientists have identified an alternative amplification technique to detect the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, that causes Covid-19, which could offer a way to rapidly test large number of people for the disease.

However, the researchers from Heidelberg University in Germany noted that the technique is not as sensitive as quantitative RT-PCR, the current standard method for Covid-19 testing.

Faster and less complicated testing could aid in the rapid isolation of infected people and help to identify and prevent new outbreaks of the disease until a vaccine becomes available, they said.

The researchers noted that quantitative RT-PCR can successfully detect viral