What is Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing?
PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction and may be called “molecular photocopying,” as it’s a technique used to “amplify,” or copy, DNA segments.
Photo Illustration from the US National Institutes of Health of Polymerase Chain Reaction
According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute’s PCR Fact Sheet, PCR Analysis is one of the most important scientific advances in molecular biology. Its creator, Kary B. Mullis, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1993. Once amplified by PCR, the DNA can be used in many different laboratory procedures including a number of laboratory and clinical techniques, including DNA fingerprinting, detection of bacteria or viruses, and diagnosis of genetic disorders.
In the test request that we received, the university research scientist needs the PCR analysis to determine % recoveries of plant DNA that have been spiked into a solution. If your company or research center needs a laboratory for testing that involves polymerase chain reaction, please Submit a Laboratory Test Request
Other PCR test requests we have received include:
- University Research needs Africa Bioanalytical Laboratory for antibiotic susceptibility profile of Enterococcus species. The work involves polymerase chain reaction PCR detection of vancomycin resistance genes (vanA and vanB) in 7 presumptive VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci) isolates.
- University Researcher needs a genetics laboratory for DNA testing of plant leaves that had been exposed to stress including Extraction of total RNA + Reverse transcription (cDNA) + Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
