Nowadays, a great number of infectious diseases caused by an even greater number of microorganisms, too quickly become resistant to antibiotics even of a wide spectrum of action. Therefore, modern technologies, such as ELISA and PCR analysis (polymerase chain reaction), are becoming increasingly important.
The fact is that with this study, the genotype of the infectious agent is artificially grown, which allows one to accurately determine its appearance and, accordingly, to choose a more effective medicine. Obtain the result of PCR analysis after the delivery of material to the laboratory, which can serve as a scraping of the urethra or cervical epithelium, blood, plasma, urine, sputum, biopsies of various organs. Thus, there is a study for various infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis, HIV infection and many others. The essence of the PCR analysis is the isolation of DNA fragments belonging to the causative agent of the disease and their completion. DNA (or deoxyribonucleic acid) is a genetic material of both microbes and higher animals. A set of nucleotides in DNA and causes the uniqueness of its structure in each carrier. Unlike other methods, PCR determines the causative agent not directly (antibodies or products of vital activity), but directly.
Benefits
PCR analysis has, first, high sensitivity (several bacterial cells in the material being studied), secondly, accuracy (ie, absolute elimination of false results) and, thirdly, universality (the similarity of the chemical structure of the genetic material of all bacteria Allows the use of laboratory studies and the determination of several pathogens from a single material). Diagnosis of contact diseases, for example, those that are sexually transmitted, is increasingly carried out using the PCR method. There is a difficulty in identifying the pathogen in the prodromal period of the disease, since only general symptoms are observed: intoxication, exanthemic syndromes, etc. In such cases, as a rule, patients do not consult a doctor, and the transition of the infectious process to later stages is very dangerous. Therefore, PCR analysis should be given at the first suspicion of an infectious disease. This will be a factor of effective treatment.
Main applications
This method is also important in the diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, etc. Their main problem is the clinical picture. However, the effect of antibiotics will depend on the clear identification of the species of the particular microorganism. Time-tested tests for PCR infection will allow this to be done with 100% accuracy. This will, in turn, assign appropriate therapy. Also, the PCR method, in addition to the enzyme immunoassay, is used to accurately diagnose diseases caused by hepatitis viruses. They have an incubation period of 40 to 120 days and often end in a lethal outcome. And the PCR analysis allows detecting diseases even in latent or subclinical forms, which will help both cure this patient and interrupt the epidemiological chain. Thus, we can safely say that this study is innovative in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.