title: Branched DNA technology in molecular diagnostics.
abstract: Viral quantification or viral load testing has become part of the routine management of patients infected with HIV-1 or hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are currently several molecular technologies that are available for use in the clinical laboratory setting. Of these, only the branched DNA (bDNA) assays are FDA-approved for HIV-1 and HCV viral load testing. This signal amplification technology is built on a series of hybridization reactions that are highly amenable to full automation and thus lessen the amount of labor required to perform this type of analysis. This article provides a historical perspective of bDNA and its clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tsongalis
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral