Figure 2.

Steps for the reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) COVID-19 testing. (a) The sample is collected and put in a transport medium. (b) The virus is inactivated by detergents or by heating. (c) Viral RNA is extracted. (d,e) The contents are transferred to a 96 well plate for cDNA synthesis and detection by RT-qPCR or sample barcoding and high-throughput DNA sequencing. (f,g) In alternate method, the RNA extraction step can be omitted through direct inactivation of the virus by heating or direct lysis by detergents. The figure is reproduced and adapted under the Creative Commons license from Ioanna Smyrlaki et al., Nature Communications, Springer Nature (2020) [19].