Corona virus PCR tests cannot distinguish between omicron and delta

Mikhail Kagan, the scientific editor-in-chief of the Distance Medical Education Service, said that rapid tests and PCR tests only determine the fact that there is a new Corona virus infection and do not detect one version or another of the virus.

To confirm that the suspected case is an omicron, a complete genetic analysis is required, which takes four to five days in specialized laboratories. He stressed that by carefully examining the genetic material provided during testing, scientists can confirm whether someone has a positive result for omicron, or whether delta continues to spread.