Reporter : Hua Ling
Publisher : Technology Daily, reproduced on China Science News
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
On 13 June 2020, the 114th regular press conference of epidemic prevention and control in Beijing informed that in response to the covid outbreak at Xinfadi Market, the Beijing and District Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carried out SARS-CoV-2 testings on this market on 12 June. Nucleic acid testing revealed 40 environmentally positive samples; 45 of the practitioners were positive for pharyngeal swabs.
So, what exactly does "pharyngeal swab positive" mean? What is the difference between a pharyngeal swab positive and a newly diagnosed case of covid? How to isolate people who are currently positive for pharyngeal swabs?
A positive throat swab indicates the presence of a virus
"After encountering this covid epidemic, pharyngeal swab collection is currently the main detection method for viral nucleic acid in China. If the pharyngeal swab is positive, it means that the nucleic acid test is positive, indicating that these 45 people carry SARS-CoV-2." A well-known immunity System experts told reporters.
What does it mean to have a positive nucleic acid test? According to reports, the coronavirus is composed of protein and ribonucleic acid RNA. The ribonucleic acid is responsible for the propagation of the virus; the protein is outside, which not only maintains the particle shape of the virus, but also protects the internal ribonucleic acid. Therefore, nucleic acid detection is to directly detect whether the virus is present, that is, a positive throat swab nucleic acid represents the presence of virus in the body.
SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract, and the pharynx is a place where such viruses gather more. The specific method is to use a medical cotton swab to dip a small amount of secretions from the pharyngeal body of the human body, and then perform relevant tests on these specimens.
The above experts told reporters that it is generally necessary to conduct two or more pharyngeal swab tests for an infected person. Two positive pharyngeal swabs are considered to be an infected person, and the interval between two samplings is 24 hours. Negative pharyngeal swab test for two nucleic acids is also an indicator of discharge.
A positive pharyngeal swab does not mean a confirmed case of covid
"Nuclear swab positive nucleic acid may be an asymptomatic infection or a confirmed case of new coronary pneumonia," pointed out Cheng Zhenshun, director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital and director of the respiratory branch of Wuhan Medical Association, while a positive throat swab does not mean a confirmed case of covid.
Cheng Zhenshun explained, "If the subject has a positive throat swab nucleic acid, but does not have clinical symptoms, such as fever, dyspnea, etc., and there is no obvious viral infection in the lung CT, then the patient is an asymptomatic infected person."
Cheng Zhenshun added that according to the description of the diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of covid in the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Program (Trial Version 7), after a positive nucleic acid test of the subject, whether it is a confirmed case also needs to be combined with clinical manifestations and Lung CT and other examination results. Only those who meet the diagnostic criteria for covid can be said to be confirmed cases.
"According to the recent survey results in Wuhan, asymptomatic infected persons are weakly contagious, but asymptomatic infected persons may turn into symptomatic, and therefore need to be isolated and observed in general. Generally speaking, asymptomatic infected persons can No special treatment." Cheng Zhenshun further said.
StayGate's Note
Covid is known officially in the People's Republic of China as novel coronavirus pneumonia.
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