What are the advantages of Molecular diagnosis technique?
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Answer:
With regard to infectious disease, molecular diagnostics has major advantages over the sole use of serology. Molecular diagnostics is a more sensitive method allowing detection of lower amounts of infectious agents and therefore giving the ability to detect infections earlier than was previously possible. This ability is especially significant in blood screening. Prior to the advent of molecular diagnostics being applied to blood screening, antibodies or antigens were solely used to detect contaminated blood samples. Due to the delay in production of antibodies (seroconversion) or the generation of significant amount of antigens, the window period, the time between infection and ability to detect infection, was significantly longer for serology only testing methods.
In addition to viral screening and detection, molecular diagnostics is now also applied to treatment guidance and monitoring. Real-Time PCR provides an effective yet simple tool to establish efficacy of therapy and modify treatment when appropriate. Nucleic acid sequencing can also be used to identify and differentiate specific viral strains. This is important in the case of HPV infection, whereby some strains are associated with a non-malignant outcome whereas others have a high correlation with the development of cervical cancer.
In the area of bacteriology molecular methods have been applied to resistance testing, the detection of infection due to fastidious bacteria, the more rapid detection of serious bacterial infections compared to conventional methods and the detection of bacterial infection after antibiotics have been administered.