Dr. Ankita Baidya, Consultant – Infectious Diseases, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka says, “Both Omron and Delta are different forms of coronavirus. If we want to know which variant is infecting us, it has to be at the genome level. needed.”
According to the infectious disease specialist, “Genome sequencing is where the viral genome and the genetic structure of the viral organism are sequenced after performing PCR, based on which it is determined whether it is an oomicron or a delta variant.”
After a PCR test is performed, the tests look for three genes with different parts of the virus that are the spike (S), nucleocapsid or inner region (N2) or outer shell (E).
According to Vaidya, “If the S gene comes out PCR positive, then there is a possibility that it is not an Omicron infection but an ongoing delta infection.” However, the doctor also says that if the S gene is PCR negative, it does not necessarily indicate the presence of omicrons or any other variant.
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