title: LightCycler technology in molecular diagnostics.
abstract: LightCycler technology combines rapid-cycle polymerase chain reaction with real-time fluorescent monitoring and melting curve analysis. Since its introduction in 1997, it is now used in many areas of molecular pathology, including oncology (solid tumors and hematopathology), inherited disease, and infectious disease. By monitoring product accumulation during rapid amplification, quantitative polymerase chain reaction in a closed-tube system is possible in 15 to 30 minutes. Furthermore, melting curve analysis of probes and/or amplicons provides genotyping and even haplotyping. Novel mutations are identified by unexpected melting temperature or curve shape changes. Melting probe designs include adjacent hybridization probes, single labeled probes, unlabeled probes, and snapback primers. High-resolution melting allows mutation scanning by detecting all heterozygous changes. This review describes the major advances throughout the last 15 years regarding LightCycler technology and its application in clinical laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. lyone@aruplab.com
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Carl T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wittwer
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D044366:Transition Temperature; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes