Nucleic acid amplification mediated microbial identification

Nucleic acid amplification techniques have and are revolutionising the way research, academia, medicine, environmental and quality control issues are dealt with. In particular, the polymerase chain reaction, (PCR), originally mentioned in 1985 has greatly modified the ways in which scientists and clinicians go about nucleic acid sequence analysis and manipulation and has great implications for molecular biology in general and diagnostics in particular. This report attempts to review the use of PCR and isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques in the rapid identification of microorganisms. Key methodologies have been noted, their strengths and weaknesses commented upon and comparisons have been drawn between isothermal and thermally cycled nucleic amplification techniques in rapid microbial identification.