Glossary Term
Reverse Transcription PCR
Abbreviation: RT-PCR
PCR TermsEN
Definition
A two-step setup in which RNA is first copied into complementary DNA by a reverse transcriptase and then amplified by PCR. Used for RNA viruses such as influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and HCV. In procurement documents, confirm whether "RT-PCR" refers to real-time (quantitative) or endpoint (qualitative) reading.