What is the principle of PCR?
PCR, short for Polymerase Chain Reaction, is an artificial DNA synthesis which can produce many copies of DNA fragments from a small amount of DNA molecules. This process makes DNA detectable by various testing methods. As a result, a small amount of DNA molecules from a biological sample can be amplified and detected within a short time (as little as 1 hour).
What are the advantages of PCR?
PCR test is based on the target DNA sequence of a biological sample. This provides obvious benefits such as target-specificity and accuracy. Another obvious benefit is short turn-around time.
What can increase PCR test accuracy?
Many factors affect the PCR test accuracy. The main factors are sample source, DNA quality taken from a test sample, PCR efficiency, PCR reagents, and conditions. DNA can be obtained from different sample sources such as human samples, animal samples, plant samples, and environmental samples. The initial DNA quantity from a sample plays an important role in testing. The initial DNA quantity can be increased by concentration from a large sample volume or by incubation to increase the growth of pathogens in a test sample. DNA quality of a test sample is based on the initial sample and purity, and the DNA isolation technique. All PCR tests should be validated for sensitivity and efficiency to ensure the quality of a PCR test. At Cicadea Biotech, all of our PCR tests or assays follow standardized quality management guidelines to ensure PCR test quality.
What is a Realtime PCR test?
A Realtime PCR test refers to a PCR-based test that can quantify DNA molecules during the amplification process of a PCR test. It provides important insightful information during the PCR cycles so that DNA molecules can be measured in a test sample to confirm the presence of certain genes or microbes in a test sample. A Realtime PCR test is run on a Realtime PCR instrument which can produce a report with data analysis results after each test.