Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

RT-PCR

RT-PCR, or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, is a laboratory technique used to detect and quantify specific RNA sequences, and it became the central diagnostic tool for identifying infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Because many viruses, including coronaviruses, store their gen…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 26× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2692-1537 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

RT-PCR, or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, is a laboratory technique used to detect and quantify specific RNA sequences, and it became the central diagnostic tool for identifying infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Because many viruses, including coronaviruses, store their genetic information as RNA, the method first uses the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert viral RNA into complementary DNA. This DNA is then amplified through the polymerase chain reaction, in which repeated cycles of heating and cooling generate millions of copies of a target sequence, allowing even very small amounts of viral genetic material to be detected. In real-time RT-PCR, fluorescent signals track the amplification as it occurs, providing sensitive and specific detection. Widely regarded as a reference standard for confirming active coronavirus infection, RT-PCR has been essential for diagnosis, screening, and surveillance during the pandemic. Research published in this journal relevant to RT-PCR includes a comparative analysis of five commercial RT-PCR diagnostic assays for the detection of COVID-19, reflecting interest in evaluating and improving molecular testing. As an open-access journal devoted to coronaviruses, this publication addresses the detection, biology, and clinical management of coronavirus infections. This page collects peer-reviewed scholarship relevant to RT-PCR and the molecular diagnosis of coronavirus disease.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2020

The Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): A Narrative Review

Rezapour BarataliCorresponding author
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Assistant Professor, PhD in Health education and promotion, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Exact topic International Journal of Coronaviruses Cited by 2 doi:10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-20-3373

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 26 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on RT-PCR, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Coronaviruses (ISSN 2692-1537).

Journal editorial board
Dr. Omeed Memar · USA Dr. SUDIPTI GUPTA · United States Dr. Jose Luis Turabian · Spain

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.