A medical student is in a class about specimen analysis. The instructor asks how a lab technician should look for a viral infection in a patient, and the student answers that molecular testing might be helpful. Which would be the best response from the instructor?
“That is incorrect because molecular testing looks at bacteria and not viruses.”
“That is correct because molecular testing is very sensitive and can detect even the tiniest organisms, such as viruses.”
“That is incorrect because molecular testing analyzes a person’s own DNA and does not look at viruses.”
“That is correct because molecular testing can detect viruses and bacteria using molecules made by the immune system.”