Is the mixed test for nucleic acid testing done by gathering people for testing? Is there any difference between the test reports for mixed testing and individual testing?

In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, everyone has almost become accustomed to nucleic acid testing. There are two ways to do nucleic acid testing: one is single testing, which means one person does the test and there will be a personal test report; the other is mixed testing, which means multiple people do the test and the results are consistent. This situation will save more time, so it will be more cost-effective. Now, let's learn about the relevant knowledge of nucleic acid testing, mixed testing, and single testing with Encyclopedia Knowledge Network!

Contents of this article

1. Does mixed nucleic acid testing mean gathering people for testing?

2. Is there any difference between the test reports for mixed nucleic acid testing and individual testing?

3. Can I do nucleic acid testing after drinking lemon water?

Does mixed nucleic acid testing mean gathering people for testing?

No, generally the testing hospital or testing agency randomly puts samples from several people in a test tube for testing.

There are two types of nucleic acid mixed testing. One is mixed sampling. Mixed sampling is to collect samples from 3 or 5 people and put them into the same sampling tube for testing. The second type of test is sample mixing. Sample mixing is a laboratory test. When testing, samples from 3 or 5 people of the same volume need to be taken out and mixed together.

Mixed sampling testing means mixing samples from multiple people (generally no more than 10 people) into the same test tube for testing, which improves testing efficiency and reduces testing costs, but the waiting time for centralized sampling may be slightly longer.

Is there any difference between the test reports for mixed nucleic acid testing and individual testing?

Generally, it cannot be seen. The specifications and indicators of the nucleic acid test report are the same. It will only show the negative or positive results of the specific indicators, the personal information of the tester, the test time, the testing agency, etc. There is no difference between the reports of mixed testing and individual testing, so generally, the difference cannot be seen.

There are two types of nucleic acid test reports, one is a qualitative test report and the other is a quantitative test report. The qualitative test report only tells you the negative or positive result, while the quantitative test report will tell you the specific value of the nucleic acid, that is, the test report can clarify the virus replication situation and the specific quantitative amount. For the detection of the new coronavirus nucleic acid, there is currently only a qualitative test report, which is generally divided into positive or negative.

A positive result generally indicates that the body is infected with the new coronavirus, but the possibility of a false positive is not completely ruled out. If the environment is polluted, false positives may occur, but the relative probability is low. A negative result indicates that there is no new coronavirus infection in the body, but if the patient has a clear epidemiological history, typical clinical manifestations, and typical chest CT pneumonia manifestations, the possibility of a false negative cannot be ruled out because the nucleic acid test shows a false negative. The probability of infection is relatively high, so for patients suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, negatives cannot be completely ruled out and a second review is required.

Can I do nucleic acid testing after drinking lemon water?

You can drink lemon water.

Nucleic acid testing is a molecular test. Eating and drinking during the test will not affect blood flow and blood concentration, so it will not have any effect on the test results.

Since the pharyngeal swab is used to explore the nasal cavity or oral cavity during the examination, some subjects may vomit reflexively during the examination, so it is best not to eat within two hours before the examination. At the same time, in order to avoid affecting the final test results, it is best not to smoke or drink within half an hour before the nucleic acid test.

Although the current method of detecting the new coronavirus is not limited to nucleic acid testing, this method is safe and can effectively avoid cross-infection. At the same time, the accuracy of the test is also very high, so you can determine whether you are infected with the new coronavirus by doing a nucleic acid test.