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

Read more

Summary

Introduction

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]

Current applications of molecular techniques in microbiology
For confirmation of culture
Nucleic acid hybridization methods
Detection of hybridization reaction
Amplification Techniques
In situ hybridization
Signal Amplification
Probe amplification technique
Other Molecular Methods
Future of Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

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

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.