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PCR Testing Chart

By September 10, 2020Commentary1 min read

Since I have written so much about the issue of the utility of PCR testing recently, I thought I would include a particularly useful chart from one of the studies.  This chart depicts the number of cycles versus the percent of culture positivity.  Culture positivity is the gold standard for determining viability of virus being shed.  You can see the rapid dropoff around 30 cycles.  From what I have been told, Minnesota for example, may be using a cycle number as high as 38.  People could reasonably disagree about trying to pick up every possible infectious case versus being more cautious, given the consequences, for example in regard to closing a school.

Kevin Roche

Author Kevin Roche

The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry through Roche Consulting, LLC. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.

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