Amplified Nucleic Acid Tests

How to Subscribe
MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package
Includes 184 CE courses, most popular		$109Add to cart
Pick Your Courses
Up to 8 CE hours		$55Add to cart
Individual course$25Add to cart
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course Fundamentals of Molecular Diagnostics. Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

Learn more about Fundamentals of Molecular Diagnostics (online CE course)
Amplified Nucleic Acid Tests

Amplification MethodAmplifiesUse of Thermal Cycling (Thermocycling)
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)Target amplification using DNA polymerase Yes
Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR)Amplification of a short DNA probe using DNA ligase Yes
Transcription- based or Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) Target amplification using reverse transcriptase and RNA polymerase No
Strand Displacement (SDA)Target amplification using DNA polymerase that continuously displaces strands of DNA containing the target sequence
No
Branched DNA (bDNA)Signal amplification using alkaline phosphatase.
  • Branched DNA analysis (bDNA) is a method that involves the amplification of a signal, not a target. (The amount of signal is directly proportional to the target present in the clinical specimen.) Some examples include quantified testing for HBV, HIV-1, and HCV viral loads (Bayer platform).2
2. McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Elsevier; 2021.
No
Loop Mediated (LAMP) Target amplification of multiple DNA sequences in a loop pattern using DNA polymerase No
Nucleic acid sequence-based (NASBA)Target amplification using 3 enzymesNo
Q-beta Replicase Probe amplification- The concentration of an RNA probe increases if the target is present No