PCR testing

PCR testing – the most accurate way to detect infections

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods in modern medical diagnostics.
It lets the laboratory detect the genetic material of the pathogen (DNA or RNA) directly in the sample, so an infection can be recognised at the very earliest stage – even before antibodies appear in the blood.

It is important to stress that, although PCR tests are highly sensitive and accurate, how useful they are depends on the pathogen and the stage of infection. Your doctor takes all this into account when ordering a PCR test, or chooses another test that is better suited to your situation.

The PCR tests available at Sabjanics Medical Center are there to diagnose infectious diseases quickly, accurately and safely.

What makes the PCR test special?

Most traditional tests (such as serology tests) detect the body’s immune response – the antibodies.
A PCR test, by contrast, identifies the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of the pathogen directly in the sample.

As a result, PCR:

• can detect the pathogen even in the early stage of infection, before the immune system produces antibodies,
  • gives a reliable result even when only a small amount of the pathogen is present,
  • can identify exactly which pathogen is present.

Important, however: PCR alone cannot always tell whether the pathogen detected means acute infection, chronic carriage or a past but persisting presence (for example with HBV, HCV or HIV).
That is why a PCR result must always be assessed together with other laboratory values and the clinical symptoms.

Because of its high sensitivity, PCR plays a key role in diagnosing many infections, and for many pathogens it is considered the “gold standard” test.

Which diseases can a PCR test detect?

At Sabjanics Medical Center, PCR testing can diagnose a range of viral and bacterial infections, for example:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs):
  Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea), Ureaplasma spp., Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, HPV, HIV, Treponema pallidum (syphilis), HSV-1/2.
  PCR detects these even in people who carry them without symptoms.
• Respiratory pathogens:
  Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, influenza, RSV, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2).
• Blood-borne viruses:
  Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) – to detect whether the virus is present and how much of it there is (viral load).
• Other pathogens:
  Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae

How is the test carried out?

Sampling always depends on where the infection is suspected:

• for sexually transmitted infections a vaginal, urethral, throat or rectal swab,
• for respiratory infections a nose or throat swab,
• for hepatitis B, C or HIV we take a venous blood sample. For hepatitis A and E infection, a stool sample is the most suitable sample type for detecting the genetic material of the pathogen by PCR.

In the laboratory, after nucleic acid extraction, the sample goes into the PCR machine, where the genetic material of the pathogen is copied millions of times, so even the smallest amount can be detected.
The result is usually ready within a few days.

When is a PCR test recommended?

• When early infection is suspected in the diagnosis of certain pathogens, before antibodies can be detected (e.g. HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, STIs).
• For some pathogens it works well for screening without symptoms, if infection has been confirmed in a partner.
• To monitor treatment of HIV, HBV and HCV infection, when the doctor wants to confirm that the pathogen has fully cleared.

Why choose Sabjanics Medical Center?

At our centre, samples for PCR tests are taken gently, discreetly and quickly,
and are processed in a modern microbiology laboratory.
Our doctors explain your result clearly and, depending on the type of infection, draw up a personalised treatment plan.

PCR is the greatest advantage of modern diagnostics: it gives an accurate, fast and reliable result, so infections can be recognised in time and the right treatment can start straight away.