The new frontier of diagnostics: Molecular assays and their role in infection prevention and control.
Recent advances in technology over the last decade have propelled the microbiology laboratory into a pivotal role in infection prevention and control. The rapid adaptation of molecular technologies to the field of clinical microbiology now greatly influences infectious disease management and significantly impacts infection control practices. This review discusses recent developments in molecular techniques in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. It describes the basic concepts of molecular assays, discusses their advantages and limitations, and characterizes currently available commercial assays with respect to cost, interpretive requirements, and clinical utility.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL; Department of Infection Control, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL. Electronic address: SDas@northshore.org.
Sanchita
S
Das
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL; Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Dena R
DR
Shibib
Department of Infection Control, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL.
Michael O
MO
Vernon
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*
Infection control; Microbiology; Molecular assays