CAPILLARY-ELECTROPHORESIS - NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR DNA DIAGNOSTICS

New innovations in the diagnostic laboratory achieve their full potent ial when they can be automated. Increasingly molecular biology (DNA) t echniques are being utilised in traditional pathology disciplines, as well as the more recent ones of cytogenetics and molecular genetics. M olecular biology was first exploited for diagnostic purposes when Sout hern blotting became established. However the time-consuming nature of the methodology, as well as the skills required, made it difficult fo r Southern blotting to be used routinely in the service laboratory. Su bsequently the invention of PCR facilitated the approach to DNA diagno stics, Today PCR in commercial or home-made kits is used for a range o f procedures. The steps required to amplify DNA with PCR can also be f ully automated. However the analysis of PCR products, which frequently requires slab gel electrophoresis and toxic chemicals or radioisotope s for visualisation, remains difficult to automate. An alternative way for analysing PCR products is now available through capillary electro phoresis. With this technique, automation can be extended to sample lo ading, electrophoresis and data analysis. The use of toxic chemicals o r radioisotopes can be avoided.