Conversation

Replying to
If I understand correctly, the main form of testing is for RNA sequences from the virus. So: 1. no definitely not a software problem; 2. sort of like that but very noisy and harder to do; 3. not really but the graph looks a bit similar I guess; 4. yes.
Replying to
Kinda no. You'd have to sequence the sample like they did the virus, then (somehow) filter out 000's of different kinds of other organic gunk to find your bogey. Most biochem testing is about isolating, amplifying, and purifying living samples to boost the signal you're hunting.
5
Replying to
The tests use polymerase chain reaction which means you need to start with DNA primers and probes. So not generic exactly, although the procedure is general (disclaimer: not a biologist, will defer to any who show up).
1
1