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“Omicron and Delta are both different variants of coronavirus. If we want to know which variant is infecting us then it has to be at the genome level,” says Dr Ankita Baidya, Consultant – Infectious Disease, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka.
As per the infectious disease expert, “Genome sequencing is where viral genome and the genetic structure of the viral organism is sequenced after performing the PCR, based on which it is determined whether it is an omicron or delta variant.”
After a PCR test is conducted, the tests look for three genes in association with different parts of the virus which are spike (S), nucleocapsid or inner area (N2) or outer shell (E).
According to Dr Baidya, “If the S gene PCR comes out as positive, then the chances are that it is not an Omicron infection, but the currently circulating Delta infection.” However, the doctor also says that if the S gene PCR is negative, it does not necessarily indicate the presence of Omicron or any other variant.
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