Editing Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (section)

=== Pathogen detection ===

[[Polymerase chain reaction#Infectious disease applications|PCR tests]] can be used for early detection of DNA-based pathogens through the amplification of pathogenic DNA, even before the host begins producing [[antibodies]].<ref name="MedlinePlus 24">{{cite web |last1=Medline Plus |title=PCR Tests |url=https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/pcr-tests/ |website=National Library of Medicine |publisher=National Institutes of Health |access-date=21 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316060703/https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/pcr-tests/ |archive-date=16 March 2025 |date=19 September 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> RT-PCR allows this process to be extended to RNA-based pathogens through the amplification of cDNA reverse-transcribed from a given pathogen's RNA.<ref name="iaea/covid_rt-rt-pcr"></ref> RT-PCR tests are best known for their use in [[COVID-19 testing]]<ref name="Cleveland Clinic 25">{{cite web |last1=Cleveland Clinic |title=PCR Test |url=https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing |access-date=21 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304035130/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing |archive-date=4 March 2025 |date=21 January 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> but have also been used to diagnose diseases such as [[Ebola]],<ref name="iaea/covid_rt-rt-pcr"></ref> [[Zika]],<ref name="iaea/covid_rt-rt-pcr"></ref> [[MERS]],<ref name="iaea/covid_rt-rt-pcr"></ref> [[SARS]]<ref name="iaea/covid_rt-rt-pcr"></ref> and [[influenza]].<ref name="Cleveland Clinic 25></ref>