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molbio

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Alexandra Mae O.

Harris 3BSMT3

Article: Molecular methods used in clinical laboratory: prospects and pitfalls

Muhammad G. Morshed, Min-Kuang Lee, Danielle Jorgensen, Judith L. Isaac-Renton, Molecular methods used in
clinical laboratory: prospects and pitfalls, FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, Volume 49, Issue 2, March
2007, Pages 184–191, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2006.00191.x

Article Summary:

The emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases present significant challenges

to global public health, driven by factors such as genetic variations in hosts and pathogens,
societal behavioral changes, population dynamics, and environmental pressures. Furthermore,
international travel facilitates the rapid spread of infectious agents globally, necessitating prompt
identification of both new and known disease-causing pathogens for effective public health
responses.

Molecular methods have gradually transitioned from academic research to routine use in
clinical laboratories, offering improved sensitivity, specificity, and turnaround times compared to
conventional detection methods. These methods play a crucial role in detecting, identifying, and
analyzing infectious microorganisms, enabling timely implementation of infection control
measures. Notably, high-throughput molecular tests have become commercially available,
impacting the infrastructure of diagnostic laboratories worldwide.

While molecular diagnostics offer promising prospects, challenges persist in their

widespread adoption in clinical settings. Most laboratories are limited to PCR or related assays,
with advanced techniques like real-time PCR and DNA sequencing emerging. Therefore, clinical
microbiologists, infectious disease physicians, and epidemiologists must understand the
capabilities and limitations of these methods to effectively utilize them in disease diagnosis and
surveillance.

PCR stands out as a powerful molecular diagnostic method in clinical laboratories,

characterized by its rapidity, high sensitivity, and specificity. By targeting specific RNA, DNA, or
cDNA sequences within a gene, PCR enables accurate identification of causative agents,
surpassing immunological assays in accuracy. Real-time PCR further enhances accuracy,
allowing selective probes or melting curve analysis to identify the amplicon.

Automation of nucleic acid extraction coupled with real-time PCR reduces turnaround
times and increases efficiency in pathogen screening. For instance, surveillance programs for
pathogens like the West Nile virus benefit from automated extraction and real-time RT-PCR,
delivering results in under four hours. Additionally, molecular techniques mitigate health risks for
laboratory personnel by rendering specimens noninfectious during processing, enabling safer
detection of potentially harmful pathogens.

Molecular methods also offer valuable tools for identifying novel, noncultivable, or slow-
growing pathogens. Screening with universal primers for PCR and DNA sequencing narrows
down potential causative agents from unidentified specimens. Moreover, sequence-based
identification and strain typing provide insights into strain relatedness and disease transmission
dynamics, aiding in the implementation of control measures.
As future medical technologists, we need to understand that while molecular methods
hold immense promise in advancing infectious disease diagnostics and public health, their
successful integration into clinical practice requires addressing challenges related to specimen
handling, contamination, and interpretation of results. With ongoing advancements and
interdisciplinary collaboration, molecular techniques are poised to play an increasingly
significant role in combating the global spread and emergence of infectious diseases.