Dhaka, Oct. 14 -- A genetic testing technique that helped identify the COVID-19 virus is increasingly being used to diagnose difficult infections, guide treatment and detect emerging disease threats, the BBC reports.

Known as metagenomic testing, the method analyses genetic material in a sample to identify a wide range of microorganisms, including pathogens that have not previously been discovered.

Unlike conventional tests, it does not rely solely on searching for known infections.

The BBC reported that the technique helped virologists identify the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 in late 2019, paving the way for diagnostic tests and accelerating efforts to develop treatments and vaccines.

Doctors are now using metagenomics to in...