Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Amplification Terminology

Molecular Diagnostics

(MDx) Review 551

TERM EXPLANATION

Amplification

Target amplification

Probe amplification

Signal amplification

Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT)

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Denaturation

Melting

Technique to ↑(amplify) amount of nucleic acid in sample, probe, or signal so that very

small amounts of nucleic acid can be detected.

Technique to ↑amount of target nucleic acid in sample through in vitro replication,

e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transcription mediated amplification (TMA).

Technique to ↑amount of probe bound to target so very small amounts of nucleic acid can

be detected, e.g., ligase chain reaction.

Technique to ↑signal generated so that very small amounts of nucleic acid can be detected,

e.g., branched chain signal amplification (bDNA), hybrid capture assay (HCA).

Term used in blood banks to describe tests that detect bloodborne pathogens by presence of

nucleic acids rather than antibodies. Provides earlier detection.

1st & most widely used amplification method. Specific primers & thermostable DNA

polymerase make copies of target DNA by repeated cycles of denaturation, annealing, &

extension. Can produce a million copies in less than an hour.

Separation of ds DNA into 2 strands using heat or alkali.

Use of heat to separate strands of DNA.

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