Real-Time PCR"... written by international authors expert in specific technical principles and applications ... a useful compendium of basic and advanced applications for laboratory scientists. It is an ideal introductory textbook and will serve as a practical handbook in laboratories where the technology is employed."
from Christopher J. McIver
in Australian J. Med. Sci. 2009. 30(2): 59-60
Further reading:
Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and ApplicationsLabels: book review, books, PCR, qPCR, real-time PCR, rtpcr
A comparison of a range of commercially available
qPCR machines or
real-time PCR machines lists various features to help you decide which qPCR instrument is most suitable for your needs.
- Applied Biosystems: ABI 7300, ABI 7500, ABI 7500 Fast, ABI 7900 Fast HT with automation accessory, ABI StepOne
- Roche: LightCycler 480, LightCycler 1.5, LightCycler 2.0
- Stratagene: Mx4000, Mx3000P, Mx3005P
- Cepheid: SmartCycler
- Corbett: Rotor-Gene 6000
- Eppendorf: Mastercycler ep realplex
- BioRad: MiniOpticon, MyiQ, Opticon2, Chromo4, iQ5
read more ...Bibliography:
- Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and Applications
- Real-Time PCR in Microbiology: From Diagnosis to Characterization
- PCR Troubleshooting: The Essential Guide
- PCR Books
Labels: PCR, qPCR, real-time PCR
One of the most important recent innovations in Clinical Microbiology is the introduction of molecular methods for the diagnosis of microbial infection. The use of real-time PCR assays in the clinical microbiology laboratory has led to significant improvements in the diagnosis of infectious disease. Real-time PCR is particularly useful for the detection of slow growing or difficult to grow
infectious agents and also for the quantitation of specific organisms in samples.
Andrew Sails has written a comprehensive review on the
clinical applications of Real-Time PCR in the clinical microbiology laboratory. A recently published book review described his chapter as follows: "The most comprehensive chapter is Chapter 13
Application in Clinical Microbiology, in which large numbers of microorganisms are mentioned that can be readily identified by RT-PCR." Read more of this book review at
Curr. Iss. Mol. Biol.Further reading:
Labels: book review, diagnosis, PCR, real-time PCR
from Christina Egan, Nick M. Cirino and Kimberlee A. Musser in Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and ApplicationsWith the public's reawakened concern regarding use of biological agents as weapons, the rapid detection, discrimination, and identification of pathogenic organisms and toxins has become a priority for state and federal government agencies. High confidence, cost effective, and near real-time diagnostic methods are essential to protecting national health security whether the target is public health, agriculture, commodities, or water supply infrastructures. While culture-based methods have been, and will likely remain, the gold standard for microbiological diagnostics, PCR-based tests offer significant advantages in sensitivity, specificity, speed and data richness that make them invaluable to diagnostic laboratories. We describe the application of real-time PCR methods in biodefense and discuss the use of real-time PCR in biodefense in terms of general workflow and processing considerations, clinical diagnostic applications, environmental diagnostic applications, and multiplex screening. Real-time PCR assays can be either quantitative (qPCR) or qualitative, depending on whether a standard curve is included with the analytical run. Most diagnostic and biodefense applications utilise the qualitative nature of real-time PCR as a detection platform. We consider the future uses and anticipated advances in real-time PCR applications as related to biodefense.
Further reading:
Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and ApplicationsLabels: biodefense, PCR, qPCR, real-time PCR
Following on from their highly acclaimed book "Real-Time PCR: An Essential Guide" published in 2004, Edwards, Logan and Saunders have recently completed a new, fully updated and expanded manual entitled
Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and Applications. Publication is planned for January 2009 but the publishers hope to have copies available from October 2008.
Further details:
Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and ApplicationsLabels: PCR, real-time PCR
A number of published reviews on Real-Time PCR have recently been made available as "open-access" papers. These timely and authoritative reviews are written by experts in the field and can be downloaded at:
PCR PapersFurther info:
PCR PapersLabels: PCR, real-time PCR
Molecular diagnostic methods are currently being used for the early detection of many viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections. Due to their high specificity and sensitivity, these methods will be inserted in the routine of the clinical laboratories to complement information provided by more conventional methods and above all, to help in the diagnosis of dubious cases. The design of specific probes, coupled to the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique provides the required specificity and sensitivity to identify fungal species in a short time. Multicopy genes such as those of ribosomal origin are preferred by many researchers to achieve well defined results. However, because they may generate false positive results, other researchers have looked at single-copy genes of high specificity. This technology is being applied to the identification of frequently found causative agents of systemic mycoses such as
Candida albicans,
Aspergillus fumigatus and other species within these genera, or agents of less frequent mycoses produced by Coccidioides immitis,
Cryptococcus neoformans,
Histoplasma capsulatum,
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, among others.
Further reading:
Pathogenic Fungi: Insights in Molecular BiologyLabels: diagnosis, fungi, mycology, PCR, real-time PCR