Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The role of polymerase chain reaction and its newer developments in feline medicine.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 1999
- Authors:
- Lutz, H et al.
- Affiliation:
- Clinical Laboratory Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This article talks about different testing methods called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its variations, which are used to diagnose infections in cats. It highlights that while PCR is a useful tool, sometimes the results can be confusing or unreliable due to issues like cross-contamination in the lab. Newer techniques, like TaqMan technology, are showing promise for being more dependable and affordable. As research continues, we can expect to learn more about how to better understand PCR test results. Overall, the article suggests that while PCR is valuable, there are still challenges to overcome in interpreting its results.
Abstract
We give a brief overview on the principles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), quantitative competitive PCR and real-time PCR (TaqMan technology). The literature dealing with PCR and its role in the diagnosis, pathogenesis and research of infectious diseases of the domestic cat is reviewed. Cross-contaminations which occasionally occur during handling of amplified DNA may be an important problem in the PCR laboratory. In many infectious diseases, PCR results are difficult to interpret as their predictive positive and negative values are not always known. Newer assays, such as TaqMan procedures, are becoming increasingly reliable and cost-effective. It can be expected that additional knowledge on how to interpret PCR results will soon be available.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11919022/