Taking cold medicine does not usually affect the results of a nucleic acid test; cold medicine does not directly kill viruses. Nucleic acids include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), the former being DNA and the latter being RNA. some viruses contain either DNA or RNA, and testing for specific nucleic acids can help diagnose viral infections. For example, the new coronavirus is an RNA virus, through the collection of nasal and throat secretions, nucleic acid testing, can help diagnose the disease. Commonly used cold and flu medicines in clinical practice are mostly compound preparations, for example, compound amantadine tablets, the active ingredients of which are acetaminophen, amantadine hydrochloride, caffeine, chlorpheniramine maleate, etc., among which acetaminophen has antipyretic and analgesic effects. Amantadine hydrochloride has antiviral and inhibit viral replication effects, not directly kill the virus. Caffeine has an antitussive effect, and chlorpheniramine maleate has an antiallergic effect. Cold remedies do not directly kill viruses in oral and nasal secretions and have no effect on nucleic acid testing.