Integration of Molecular Methods into Microbiological Diagnostics

Abstract

Conventional microbiological methods take a long time to complete and sometimes accuracy can be compromised due to varying levels of expertise in the laboratory. Thus, molecular methods are highly needed to accomplish this mission. Apart from the specificity and sensitivity, molecular methods confer accuracy, precision, reproductive among others.This review points out the respective needs for molecular techniques in diagnostic laboratories. Various convincing points were elaborated including; the short turnaround time, minimization of nosocomial infections (transmission within the community and health care system), the economic cost involved in-patient treatment, the sensitivity, reliability and the accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases.The benefits that epidemiological studies draw from molecular techniques need to be implemented in developing nations, the big hopes, some limitations and recommendations of the use molecular methods in microbiological diagnostics are discussed.

The Inconsistences of Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in Diagnostics Microbiology

“…The introduction of real time PCR has drastically shortened this waiting time from days to hours. The sensitivity (ability to detect even the smallest amount of DNA) and specificity (the ability to detect only the target sequences or organism) of nucleic acid-based tests gain its popularity and the need to established concrete diagnostics [1,5]. The sooner the establishment of the diagnostics results, the better for the treatment and the lesser the patients prone to contamination.…”

“…Before this invention, the diagnostics tools were very limited to conventional methods and these had created our inability to detect many viable but non-culturable pathogens. These days, both of Norovirus and Treponema pallidum can be diagnosed in the clinical laboratories without the use of electron microscope (EM) and culture plate methods respectively [1,2].Polymerase Chain Reaction is a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) in a form of complimentary DNA (cDNA) amplification machine that can detect even the smallest amount of DNA present in the targeted cell or organism. The machine works with the principles of a thermostable DNA polymerase and this eliminate the use of olden system of water bath.…”

“…Before this invention, the diagnostics tools were very limited to conventional methods and these had created our inability to detect many viable but non-culturable pathogens. These days, both of Norovirus and Treponema pallidum can be diagnosed in the clinical laboratories without the use of electron microscope (EM) and culture plate methods respectively [1,2].…”

“…These days, both of Norovirus and Treponema pallidum can be diagnosed in the clinical laboratories without the use of electron microscope (EM) and culture plate methods respectively [1,2].…”

“…Thermus aquaticus is a bacterium that can withstand the heat that provides the optimum temperature for the double stranded DNA to be unwound or denature into single stranded and be ready for the alignment of the nucleotide base sequences. The sensitivity and specificity of these methods laid its foundation and made it winning the upper hand [1][2][3][4].…”