Clinical Applications of PCR (Methods in Molecular Medicine)

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most important molecular biological methods ever devised, with numerous applications to cli- cal molecular medicine. Since its description in 1985, PCR has undergone tremendous improvements, and many variations on the basic PCR theme have been published. With such a large volume of PCR-related literature, a clinical scientist wishing to use the technique will have a difficult task loc- ing the relevant information to implement it effectively. There is thus clearly a need for an up-to-date volume with detailed protocols to facilitate the setting up of those techniques most relevant to clinical applications. Unlike some other books on this topic, Clinical Applications of PCR includes only methods that are of direct relevance in clinical settings. The book is organized in three parts: an introductory section, a section on general methodology, and a final section with specific clinical applications. The first section covers the basic principles of PCR and is most useful to those new to molecular diagnosis. The next chapter includes useful tips for setting up a PCR laboratory. Section 2 then outlines some of the most commonly used PCR-based techniques in molecular diagnosis. Section 3 includes carefully chosen examples that represent typical applications of PCR in diverse clinical fields, encompassing hematology, oncology, genetics, and microbiology.

Clinical Applications of PCR offers an unprecedented collection of core PCR techniques for the study and diagnosis of human diseases. Cutting-edge and essential for today's diagnostic laboratories, these techniques heavily utilize nonisotopic, solution phase, and in situ amplification methods. A significant number of chapters describe applications exploiting the exquisite sensitivity of PCR in the detection of rare or single cells, as in identifying fetal cells circulating in maternal blood, preimplantation embryo diagnosis, or detecting circulating cancer cells.
The methods described in Clinical Applications of PCR will well serve diverse clinical specialties ranging from hematology/oncology, human genetics, and microbiology, to virology, pathology, and infectious diseases. The book repeatedly demonstrates the power of PCR-its high sensitivity, specificity, and ability to rapidly discriminate sequence variations.