How does actually the Corona Test? We have tried it. Spoiler: In the case of our author of the Test was negative.

The corona test by TIB Molbiol of Berlin photo: Kitty Kleist-Heinrich/TSP/imago

BERLIN taz | biology laboratory technician-Alexander at the end of testing me on Corona. Since seven years he is staff at TIB Molbiol. The Berlin-based company developed the world's first Test Kit for the Corona. Commercial Alexander is allowed to perform at the end of the testing, only for research purposes. In laboratories of hospitals, the test process is automated runs. Assembly-line-like, can there be many samples simultaneously tested. Everything here is hand work.

The Corona-Test consists of three Tests: The actual evidence test, the smear of the Patient*is tested indoor. It is the negative control and the positive control to ensure that the Kit works. The former with water. The latter with Virus-RNA.

first of all, I place myself in front of a mirror, open the mouth wide and RUB with a cotton swab deep in the throat. The automatic gag reflex I need to press. In the safety of the laboratory only and must be handled with RNA – Alexander at the end of the cotton swab in a small plastic vessel and gives a enzyme to do so. In a small device, my sample is shaken for 15 minutes at 65 degrees Celsius.

the cells of bacteria and viruses in the cracks in my sample and the genetic material exposed. Then we filter out the nucleic acids with a centrifuge. With 11,000 Revolutions per Minute, the device rotates insanely fast. If I get infected am and Corona viruses were in the sample, they would now be safe.

The next step happened in a small laboratory next door. Here, laboratory boxes on the tables. The boxes are made of transparent plastic, the right and left opened. It attacks with the hands and works in the Box. So to protect the samples from contamination.

Here we mix the reaction mix: water, Polymerase, another enzyme, plus fragments of the Virus. The latter is a red crumb in the Test Kit in a tube with a yellow lid. This is dissolved with water and is enough for 100 Tests. Parts of these fragments can lights for a machine to be visible. The reaction mix, we distribute three small vessels. In a we give my sample in the second Virus-RNA for the positive control and the third water for the negative control.

In a further laboratory box-shaped machines that carry out the testing. As in the case of a DVD Player, a Splint out on the we the three vessels. The machine heats and cools the samples in the change from 95 to 60 degrees. Thus, the possible Virus can replicate DNA in my sample. Many copies are needed in order for the machine to detect the Virus. The positive control light up in any case. My sample only if I'm infected with Corona. After a good hour I have the certainty that I am not infected.