Why use PCR to detect infectious diseases of dogs and cats?
Molecular testing using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) has revolutionized the way veterinarians, researchers, zoos, breeders and other animal care facilities maintain animal health and obtain disease data. The sensitivity, specificity and speed with which pathogens are identified by PCR enable diagnostic, research and monitoring possibilities unavailable using other techniques. Molecular techniques represent a dramatically effective tool for the diagnosis of disease in dogs, cats and other animals. In PCR testing, nucleic acid — DNA or RNA — is isolated from the specimen, then amplified (after an extra reverse transcription step in the case of RNA) using highly specific primers complementary to known target pathogen sequences. References and controls are run simultaneously; internal controls monitor extraction and PCR efficiency. Amplified sequences are visualized and recorded using state-of-the-art protocols and instrumentation. How is molecular, PCR-based testing complementary to
