title: COBAS AMPLICOR: fully automated RNA and DNA amplification and detection system for routine diagnostic PCR.
abstract: The COBAS AMPLICOR system automates amplification and detection of target nucleic acids, making diagnostic PCR routine for a variety of infectious diseases. The system contains a single thermal cycler with two independently regulated heating/cooling blocks, an incubator, a magnetic particle washer, a pipettor, and a photometer. Amplified products are captured on oligonucleotide-coated paramagnetic microparticles and detected with use of an avidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugate. Concentrated solutions of amplicon or HRP were pipetted without detectable carryover. Amplified DNA was detected with an intraassay CV of < 4.5%; the combined intraassay CV for amplification and detection was < 15%. No cross-reactivity was observed when three different target nucleic acids were amplified in a single reaction and detected with three target-specific capture probes. The initial COBAS AMPLICOR menu includes qualitative tests for diagnosing infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and hepatitis C virus. All tests include an optional Internal Control to provide assurance that specimens are successfully amplified and detected.
authors.affiliation: Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, NJ 08876, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: DiDomenico
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knobel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caratsch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weschler
authors.forename: Z G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Loewy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenstraus
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008863:Microspheres; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA