How Do You Know Which Variant?

[Barsel]

When you do a test for Covid, if it came back as positive, how would you know which variant it is?
I read today that a few cases have been found in Greater Manchester of the new variant, but how do they know?

[Hopkirk]

They analyse the PCR test.

[theprof]

Tests will not show that you have the omicron variant. The most they will do is show that you have covid.
Laboratory sequencing is used to tell which variant you have and it takes time and expensive equipment. That's what happened in Greater Manchester and elsewhere - it took days for the people involved to be told they had the omicron variant. Sometimes you can have more than one variant present.

[Peter Pedant]

if you had actually read some of my posts you would know
but all you did was blaaart - "wot all that den?" and a host of other side-splitting fresh one-liners

The new variant (omicron) lacks the S protein
( "wot dat den you" quite reasonably ask - it is a protein found and instructed by the virus which otherwise we dont have)

sooooo

you test for covid and IF it is positive,
then you test for the presence or absence of S
and if it is present - old virus
and if it is absent - it is PROBABLY omicron

it ( all this was said before) was on the thread where the Prof resurfaced ( biochemist who is giving advice on spatial arrangement of the spike protein ) - not for free mind you !

in terms of Holland has had omicron for a few weeks
you do that by a look-back ( you re test old samples silly!) (*)
or by tracking the mutations

if it were Omicron + 1 extra mutation then it is recent
if it is omicron + 6 extra side mutations then it is longer ago and you can age it by estimating the mutation rate in covid ( much quicker than man)

simples I would say
foo ! you might say

(*) one of my collagues organised a look-back of 5 million pints of donated blood, and Hep C - christ. The most difficult thing was raising the moolah to do it she said

[Peter Pedant]

oh, here's the fella himself!

Prof do we know if the course is mild or not?
if mild then the restrictions will be lifted soon, will they not?

and it is right to say, no one has died from it yet?

[theprof]

Hi Peter

I can only go on information provided to me from the powers that be in the UK, but as long as you don't shoot the messenger, no known fatalities have occurred as a result of Omicron in the UK to date officially. To be blunt though, we very rarely test the bodies.

I'd agree that the infected have relatively mild symptoms, again to date. They are being closely observed in all cases.

I can say that we are seeing some very odd changes in this variant but only time will tell regarding infectiveness, transmissibilty etc. I very wary Coatzee's claims in the press right now about what she's found in SA.

I think that compliance with the government wishes may play a part on the lifting of restrictions as well as other factors such as the work my team are doing with others globally. I'm reluctant to discuss the politics.

[jno]

theprof, thanks very much for your ongoing explanations.

[Barsel]

PP how did you do that?
Are you also The Prof?
I haven't seen any other threads with this question PP so please don't assume I haven't read your posts, I just haven't seen them.

[theprof]

jno, thank you. It's much appreciated.

[bednobs]

in barsel's defence peter, you do make it very tricky for people to actually read your posts

[theprof]

If I could just add, Peter is not me and I am not him.

[Togo]

AB at its best. Concise, clear, and informative from theProf.

[naomi24]

As always, Togo. Among all the twaddle posted, The Prof is a breath of fresh air here and his obvious expertise is, as always, very much appreciated.

The Prof, I think it's quite clear that you and PP are not one and the same.

[Barsel]

PP said @ 11.54am
oh, here's the fella himself!
Prof do we know if the course is mild or not?
if mild then the restrictions will be lifted soon, will they not?
and it is right to say, no one has died from it yet?
Then came the post from the Prof!

[theprof]

Thank you Togo and naomi24.

[Mamyalynne]

Always good to have you aboard with some clear explanations Prof, keep up the excellent work.

[theprof]

Barsel, my gut feeling here is to leave you to your beliefs and end my contribution to this thread.

However, let's look at your logic here. PP did indeed write a post at 1154 but his opening sentence, namely, "oh, here's the fella himself" was referring to my post at 1148 and not my post at 1220. Whilst I agree that PP's choice of words in that sentence was a poor choice, to suspect via that sentence that we are one and the same is pretty unfair Barsel.

I'll leave it at that. Others here on AB since you posted your thought's are obviously of a contrary opinion to you.

[Togo]

Having read through this again I have just ordered lateral flow kits, online, for the two of us. They are free and if you do not have an NHS ID account set up you can do it as you order the free kits. You can also, with a bit of a faff, order "covid passports if you need them from the same Govt NHS site. The covid passports require photoghraphic id (driving licence image)if you want to do it online.

[Lie-in King]

Agreed, theprof always has valuable input & again I extend my thanks to him & his team for all their work.

[theprof]

Thank you Mamyalynne.