Polymerase Chain Reaction in Infectious Disease Diagnosis

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Abstract
Assays based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been developed to identify a variety of infectious agents. To date, these assays have been routinely applied only in academic or highly sophisticated testing laboratories. With the 1993 introduction in the United States of the first PCR-based in vitro diagnostic kit, the stage is set for rapid commercial entry of other kit assays and eventual automation of the versatile technology. The availability of PCR methodology in simple, reliable kit formats should fulfill the promise of some years ago of DNA probe–based diagnostics and extend their diagnostic potential to DNA and RNA pathogens, multiple target detection, and quantitation of pathogen load.

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