These methodologies use principles that amplify or multiply the target of interest, usually incorporating an enzyme to produce millions or billions of copies in a relatively short time.
Some enzymes used in amplification include:
DNA ligase
DNA polymerase
RNA polymerase
Reverse transcriptase
Alkaline phosphatase
Cleavase
Note: the steps in amplified testing will vary depending on the target amplified, requirement for thermal cycling and detection techniques.