MOLECULAR DETECTION OF COVID -19 BY TRUENAT RT-PCR IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN DELHI NCR REGION

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a severe infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affected lives of millions of people , responsible for millions of death affecting health care systems worldwide seriously. To diagnose Aims and Objectives: COVID -19 infection in a tertiary care hospital using TrueNat RTPCR and to categorise and co - relate various Ct values with viral load. Material and Methods: Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from the patients following standard protocols and were inserted into the viral lysis medium tube. Specimen is transferred from viral lysis medium to automatic extracted device for extraction of RNA and then into RT-PCR analyser for reaction to start automatically. Test detects the screening E gene and conrmatory RdRp /Orf1a gene and human RNase P. Of the 1025 patients subjected to COVID - 19- RTPCR 630 (61%) were male Results : s and 395 (39%) were females. 26% (269/1025) of patients were conrmed COVID positive and 72% (747/1025) were negative. Age group 21-30 showed maximum positive cases followed by age group 51-60 years. High viral load was seen in 41% cases whereas maximum no. of conrmed positive had low viral loads. Rapid and Conclusion: accurate diagnostic methods are required for early detection along with precautionary measures for timely therapeutic interventions and prophylaxis to control and prevent the Spread of highly contagious COVID-19.