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PCR test thermal cycles and false positives (FOI)

PCR test thermal cycles and false positives (FOI)

Produced by the Freedom of Information office
Authored by Government of Jersey and published on 26 January 2021.
Prepared internally, no external costs.

​Request

A

Please can you tell me how many cycles the Covid PCR test runs?

B

Can you also tell me what the percentage of false positives the test might give?

Response

A

The Hospital PCR assay runs up to 45 cycles and the OpenCell Altona used for wider COVID testing runs to 40 cycles. OpenCell’s contain lab is working with the Government of Jersey to provide support with testing on island and as part of the programme all passengers arriving by sea or air are tested at the point of arrival.

B

False positives are very unlikely in this assay as the number of cycles is high enough to prevent these and the assay uses two gene targets to maximise sensitivity of the assay.

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