Does the absence of SARS‐CoV‐2 specific genes always exclude the infection? How to interpret RT‐PCR results?—The scenario of interactive online workshop

Kocemba‐Pilarczyk, Kinga A.; Bentke‐Imiolek, Anna; Dudzik, Paulina

The aim of this online workshop is to familiarize biomedical faculties students with the principle of RT‐PCR method. The following assumption is made, students participating in the workshop: 1. are already familiar with the principle of PCR reaction, 2. can distinguish PCR from RT‐PCR, 3. know the basic possibilities of using the above techniques. During the online workshop participants are supposed to learn the interpretation of PCR and RT‐PCR results and to understand the crucial importance of controlling the reaction conditions. The workshop involves active students' learning, critical analysis of the data, group discussion, brainstorming method, involvement of e‐tools such as pool everywhere or e‐learning platforms, as well as interpreting the real‐life example results that allows putting the topic in the proper future work‐related tasks. The final part of the workshop focuses on the analysis of the RT‐PCR results performed in order to confirm or exclude the presence of the SARS‐CoV‐2 genome in potentially infected individuals. The students are expected to see the practical/work‐related part of the knowledge gained during the workshop.