AUTOMATION OF MOLECULAR-GENETIC METHODS .2. DNA AMPLIFICATION TECHNIQUES

DNA amplification techniques can be divided into three groups: target amplification, probe amplification, and signal amplification, The targ et amplification techniques offer the highest level of detection sensi tivity, with single molecule detection possible in finely tuned system s. This is followed closely by the probe amplification techniques, whi ch can detect down to a few molecules of specific target sequence, Sig nal amplification has greatly improved through the use of branched pro bes and chemiluminescent detection and currently has a detection limit of 1000 molecules, Each of these amplification options is being comme rcialized in variety formats for use in the clinical laboratory, A des cription of the amplification techniques, approaches to their automati on, and the clinical problems they address is reviewed in this article .