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Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for Detection of Aquatic Animal Pathogens in a Diagnostic Laboratory Setting
Author(s) -
Purcell Maureen K.,
Getchell Rodman G.,
McClure Carol A.,
Garver Kyle A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of aquatic animal health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1548-8667
pISSN - 0899-7659
DOI - 10.1080/08997659.2011.620217
Subject(s) - biology , real time polymerase chain reaction , polymerase chain reaction , quality assurance , computational biology , diagnostic test , molecular diagnostics , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemical engineering , bioinformatics , pathology , engineering , medicine , veterinary medicine , genetics , gene , external quality assessment
Real‐time, or quantitative, polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is quickly supplanting other molecular methods for detecting the nucleic acids of human and other animal pathogens owing to the speed and robustness of the technology. As the aquatic animal health community moves toward implementing national diagnostic testing schemes, it will need to evaluate how qPCR technology should be employed. This review outlines the basic principles of qPCR technology, considerations for assay development, standards and controls, assay performance, diagnostic validation, implementation in the diagnostic laboratory, and quality assurance and control measures. These factors are fundamental for ensuring the validity of qPCR assay results obtained in the diagnostic laboratory setting. Received March 30, 2011; accepted May 6, 2011