One of the most used laboratory methods for identifying COVID-19 is real-time RT-PCR. Real-time RT-PCR is a nuclear-based way to find out if a pathogen, like a virus, has a certain type of genetic material. Originally, radioactive isotope markers were used to find specific genetic materials. However, as technology has improved, isotopic labeling has been replaced by special markers, most commonly fluorescent dyes. With this method, scientists can see the results almost immediately, while the process is still going on. With traditional RT–PCR, the results are only shown at the end of the process.
