Molecular diagnostics refers to a group of techniques that allow biological markers in genetic code to be accurately analyzed. With these techniques evaluating samples of DNA or RNA from our cells, they identify distinct genetic sequences that indicate the presence of specific conditions and diseases.

It’s a field of diagnostics that the general public has become rapidly familiar with in recent years, even if they aren’t aware of it. The process lies at the heart of the increasingly popular DNA home testing kits that are used to identify an individual’s genetic ancestry—revealing with a great deal of accuracy where the test subject may have come from and how they may be related to other families.

While these home testing kits have captured the public’s imagination, however, molecular diagnostics is perhaps best known in the form of the PCR tests used to diagnose COVID-19. Since the pandemic, real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction—or real-time PCR—has become the quickest and most reliable way to identify the disease.
Real-Time PCR vs. Traditional PCR

In traditional PCR tests, results are captured in the final phase or “end-point” of the PCR reaction. Unfortunately, this can be an extremely time-consuming process, with results often taking days to generate. What’s more, end-point detection has a short dynamic range (< 2 logs), which results in low sensitivity, low resolution, and poor precision.

That said, traditional PCR has progressed from end-point detection to being able to obtain accurate results while the reaction is happening. With real-time PCR allowing the precise evaluation of the initial quantity of template DNA copies, the test surpasses traditional PCR both quantitatively and qualitatively.

As a leading developer of real-time PCR technology, GBC has its eye very much on the future of the technique, not just in the diagnosis of COVID-19 but also as a tool in a wide range of medical treatments.

Real-Time PCR vs. Traditional PCR

In traditional PCR tests, results are captured in the final phase or “end-point” of the PCR reaction. Unfortunately, this can be an extremely time-consuming process, with results often taking days to generate. What’s more, end-point detection has a short dynamic range (< 2 logs), which results in low sensitivity, low resolution, and poor precision.

That said, traditional PCR has progressed from end-point detection to being able to obtain accurate results while the reaction is happening. With real-time PCR allowing the precise evaluation of the initial quantity of template DNA copies, the test surpasses traditional PCR both quantitatively and qualitatively.

As a leading developer of real-time PCR technology, GBC has its eye very much on the future of the technique, not just in the diagnosis of COVID-19 but also as a tool in a wide range of medical treatments.

Overcoming Challenges

With real-time PCR likely to be a significant contributor to the development of personalized medicine, the aim for PCR diagnostics is to evolve technologies that take it into primary care. A real-time PCR device that’s as simple to use as a thermometer—and as common to own—would change the face of modern healthcare, diagnosing any number of conditions at the push of a button.

As profound a development as this would be, a number of hurdles still need to be overcome. For example, in contrast to immuno-diagnostics, which allows tests to be performed using raw blood samples, current PCR techniques often depend on complex sample preparation, with any number of containment substances reducing the effectiveness of the test.

When you factor in the time-consuming human element that’s still required for quality control in even large, automated diagnostics labs, definite issues still stand in the way. The potential is there, however, and the team at GBC is continually advancing its research in a bid to see real-time PCR evolve into a mainstream tool in primary care.

To find out more about GBC and its real-time PCR technologies, you can contact us here.