Abstract
Conventional microbiology is an inexpensive but protracted diagnostic method and there are certain limitations associated with it. Molecular methods have been increasingly incorporated in laboratories, particularly for the detection and characterization of isolates and for the diagnosis of diseases due to fastidious, slow growing, nonviable or non-cultivable organisms which cannot be detected by conventional culture techniques. The introduction of these techniques and their automation provides new opportunities for the clinical laboratory to affect patient care. These tests provide timely results which are useful for high-quality patient care at a reasonable cost and are associated with improvement in patients care. The use of amplification techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, real-time polymerase chain reaction or nucleic acid sequence-based amplification for micro-organisms detection, genotyping and quantification. Molecular methods are rapid and highly sensitive and specific. This review will focus on various molecular techniques which are performed in clinical microbiology laboratories and their clinical applications and therefore help in management of infectious diseases.
Highlights
Detection and identification of the causative infectious agent is a highly relevant issue in microbiological diagnostics
Molecular methods have been increasingly incorporated in laboratories, for the detection and characterization of isolates and for the diagnosis of diseases due to fastidious, slow growing, non-viable or non-cultivable organisms which cannot be detected by conventional culture techniques [1]
Hybridization assays require that one nucleic acid strand is from the known organism while the other is derived from the organism to be identified or detected
Summary
Detection and identification of the causative infectious agent is a highly relevant issue in microbiological diagnostics. Conventional microbiology is an inexpensive but protracted diagnostic method and there are certain limitations associated with it. Molecular methods have been increasingly incorporated in laboratories, for the detection and characterization of isolates and for the diagnosis of diseases due to fastidious, slow growing, non-viable or non-cultivable organisms which cannot be detected by conventional culture techniques [1]. Molecular methods are based on the basic chemistry of DNA replication. The advantages are rapid turn-around time and high sensitivity and specificity they are expensive, will miss new organisms, and too sensitive to assess clinical significance and must be matched by rigorous validation and quality control [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
