Question

Describe how NAATs and PCR have revolutionized the identification of infectious microbes.

Answer 1

Before the coming of NAATs and PCR infections were identified through culture methods. Even now they are used. These methods are cumbersome. The other drawbacks are that they are expensive and not very specific. Moreover some of the organisms can't be cultured.

So there was a need for non culture methods.

NAATs and PCR have brought a revolution in diagnosis of infection.

Advantages-

• They have sped up the diagnostic test.
• They are cost effective
• They can detect infection before it even shows symptoms. They amplify a piece of DNA and make multiple copies of it which can now be identified. Thus they lead to early diagnosis.eg of HIV
• They are very sensitive and specific.
• They can detect organisms which can't be cultured or whose culture take a long time to give results.eg mycobacterium.
• They reduce chances of spread of infection during diagnosis.

NAAT- nucleic acid amplification test

It amplifies and detects viral genome.This is used in diagnosing viral infections like HIV, HCV, Influenza.It is even considered as a gold standard method in diagnosis of these diseases.

PCR- polymerase chain reaction

It amplifies a piece of DNA exponentially. It is used in diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections. It is used specially in diagnosis of HIV, Tuberculosis, pertussis etc.