Nucleic acid amplification and infectious disease.
Infectious organisms that have long eluded detection may now be easily identified using nucleic acid amplification techniques. Because nucleic acids are relatively stable, a wide range of samples, including paraffin-embedded fixed tissues, may be amplified. Infections by both RNA and DNA viruses and a variety of other organisms may be detected in both a prospective and retrospective fashion. Amplification techniques also may be used to detect bacterial toxins or type organisms for epidemiological purposes. However, the current lack of standardization between laboratories makes the interpretation of a negative or positive result hazardous in some instances, a problem that should be resolved with the evolution of the procedure.
Rogers
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Department of Pathology, Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235.
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008025:Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D008025:Ligases