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Clinical consequences of polymerase chain reaction‐based diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections
Author(s) -
Rijsman Lucas H,
Monkelbaan Jan F,
Kusters Johannes G
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.13412
Subject(s) - polymerase chain reaction , medicine , protozoa , molecular diagnostics , sampling (signal processing) , intensive care medicine , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bioinformatics , biology , computer science , genetics , gene , filter (signal processing) , computer vision
The implementation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based diagnostics of intestinal protozoa has led to higher sensitivity and (subtype) specificity, more convenient sampling, and the possibility for high‐throughput screening. PCR for routine detection of human intestinal protozoa in fecal samples is used by an increasing number of clinical laboratories. This paper discusses the recent developments in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa, with an emphasis on PCR‐based diagnostics. Although many reviews have described the technical aspects of PCR‐based diagnostics, this review focuses on the clinical consequences that result from the shift from microscopic toward PCR‐based diagnostics. Despite its undisputed superiority, the use of PCR comes with challenges that clinicians should be aware of.