title: Ten years of R&D and full automation in molecular diagnosis.
abstract: A 10-year experience of our automated molecular diagnostic platform that carries out 91 different real-time PCR is described. Progresses and future perspectives in molecular diagnostic microbiology are reviewed: why automation is important; how our platform was implemented; how homemade PCRs were developed; the advantages/disadvantages of homemade PCRs, including the critical aspects of troubleshooting and the need to further reduce the turnaround time for specific samples, at least for defined clinical settings such as emergencies. The future of molecular diagnosis depends on automation, and in a novel perspective, it is time now to fully acknowledge the true contribution of molecular diagnostic and to reconsider the indication for PCR, by also using these tests as first-line assays.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne & University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greub
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne & University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sahli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne & University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brouillet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne & University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaton
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: assay development; automation; flexibility; high-throughput tests; intracellular bacteria; molecular diagnosis; quality assessment; real-time PCR