Unfortunately, both people, and animals sometimes are ill and are forced to make any given tests. And if with the general analyses everything is clear, then with modern methods of laboratory diagnostics everything is much more difficult — all researches are encrypted in strange abbreviations. One of the most popular analyses is PCR. So it it?
PCR — polymerase chain reaction is a method of laboratory diagnostics which defines sites of DNA of the activator in the studied material. And any fabric or a secret which can contain the activator can serve as material. Sampling from the most probable places of localization of the activator is expedient. So, it is most often made blood, a phlegm, saliva and urine and also dabs and scrapes with mucous conjunctivas, genitals and an urethra are studied.
What do we look for?
This technique of a research is unique as it is capable to find genetic material of the activator practically right after infection. Accuracy of results is 99.9%. At the correct carrying out the analysis of a mistake cannot be because each virus, each bacterium possesses own specific genetic material, and the principle of work of PCR is based that the smallest sites of nucleinic acids (of which DNA consists) are repeatedly multiplied and there is possible their definition.
Features of PCR:
- 100% specificity of definition because the method defines not the activator, but its DNA; - high sensitivity of the analysis, thanks to what perhaps high-quality definition of the infectious agent as soon as possible from the infection moment, even before emergence of the first symptoms; - besides high-quality definition of the PCR activator defines also its quantity that allows to estimate adequacy to the picked-up therapy; - high speed of the analysis, and technology is automated by a cavity; - the same test of biological material can be used for definition of different activators. It is possible to define by the PCR method practically any activator and also genetically changed material of the organism as as, for example, the mutating cancer cells. For this reason this analysis is used for definition of a leukosis, all types of hepatitis, infections of an urinary system, a distemper, flu and tuberculosis, virus enterit and heavy bronchitis and also such exotic diseases as Marek's disease and a disease of Gamborough and others. In experimental laboratories also define fungal infections by this technique.
Prospects of a method
At researches by PCR method very big prospects, it is the only analysis which in fast terms defines virus loading in the selected test (usually, in blood) that allows to appoint the most effective treatment and also to estimate quality of the carried-out therapy. Besides the possibility of application of this method is very extensive: with its help it is possible to examine both pets, and wild and also birds.