As we head into another winter holiday season, COVID-19 remains a part of our lives. Daniel D. Rhoads, MD, FCAP, chair of the Microbiology Committee, offers a helpful analogy to explain PCR testing: “Think of the viral signal as someone whispering to you from across the room,” he says. “It’s hard to hear, but if they amplify it with a microphone — the amplification step in PCR testing — it becomes easier to detect.” In contrast, rapid antigen tests “only pick up the signal if someone is shouting from across the room,” Rhoads explains.
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