To determine whether polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in the initial diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is cost-effective in a low-prevalence population, an economic evaluation was carried out between the smear and culture (NOPCR) and smear, culture and PCR (+PCR) strategies. A decision tree model based on retrospective laboratory data was developed to assess the strategies of test...

S i n c e its discovery in 1985, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has had a profound impact on detecting genetic and infectious diseases, identifying new genes, and unraveling the mysteries of protein-ligand recognition.(1-s) Its universal utility is due to the exquisite specificity of amplification and ease of cycling made possible by the cloning and careful characterization of a thermostab...

Chlamydia trachomatis now is one of the most prevalent bacteria sexually transmissible diseases (STD), and as such, constitutes a serious public health problem. Diagnosis of Chlamydial infections is based on isolation of bacteria in tissue culture media that requires at least 48 to 72h. The aim of this study was the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), beca...

Sex determination in infants and children with ambiguous genitalia usually necessitates time-consuming and costly karyotyping .We have evaluated a simple,rapid and reliable method of postnatal sex determination by amplification of X and Y specific microsatellite markers DXS6797 and SRY respectively by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Three probands M78, M59 and M61 with ambiguous genitalia were ...

The origin of horse, dog, cat, bovine, sheep, porcine, and goat meat was determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, using species-specific primers. Test mixtures of meat were prepared by adding 5%, 2.5%, 1%, 0.5%, and 0.1% levels of pork, horse, cat, or dog meat to beef, sheep, and goat meat. Samples taken from those combinations were analyzed by PCR for species determination....

RAS mutation analysis is an important companion diagnostic test. Treatment of colorectal cancer with anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) therapy requires demonstration of RAS mutation status (both KRAS and NRAS), and it is good practice to include BRAF. In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma, assessment of RAS mutation status can be helpful in triaging patient samples for m...

Utilizing ~1 W of microwave power, we achieved heating of PCR buffer with unprecedented temperature ramp rates that allowed for rapid thermocycling. Polymeric microdevices, chosen for their low cost and ease of fabrication, were constructed from polycarbonate (PC), poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA), and polyester-toner (PeT) using fast, simple microfabrication via computer-aided milling for PC a...

Fig (Ficus carica) trees exhibited symptoms of little leaf, mottling and deformation in Sanliurfa province, Turkey. Poylmerase chain reaction (PCR) through direct nested-PCR, phylogeny based on the sequence analysis revealed that infecting agent was closely related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ (16SrII-B subgroup). This is first report Ca. P. aurantifolia fig