PCR Test Facts

[Guest guest]

Hi All:

Below is from wikipedia which explains the role of the PCR test in the diagnosis of diseases:

PCR permits early diagnosis of malignant diseases such as leukemia and lymphomas, which is currently the highest developed in cancer research and is already being used routinely. PCR assays can be performed directly on genomic DNA samples to detect translocation-specific malignant cells at a sensitivity which is at least 10,000 fold higher than other methods.

PCR also permits identification of non-cultivatable or slow-growing microorganisms such as mycobacteria, anaerobic bacteria, or viruses from tissue culture assays. The basis for PCR diagnostic applications in microbiology is the detection of infectious agents and the discrimination of non-pathogenic from pathogenic strains by virtue of specific genes.

Viral DNA can likewise be detected by PCR. The high sensitivity of PCR permits virus detection soon after infection and even before the onset of disease. Such early detection may give physicians a significant lead in treatment. The amount of virus ("viral load") in a patient can also be quantified by PCR-based DNA quantitation techniques.

~PH

[Guest guest]

Do some insurance companies cover the PCR testing?

If I was a cash patient and contact Dr. Kole, about what price do you guess the

PCR would be?

Thank you.

M.

>

>

> Hi All:

>

> Below is from wikipedia which explains the role of the PCR test in the

> diagnosis of diseases:

>

> PCR permits early diagnosis of malignant

> <http://health./wiki/Malignant> diseases such as

> leukemia <http://health./wiki/Leukemia> and lymphomas

> <http://health./wiki/Lymphoma> , which is currently the

> highest developed in cancer research and is already being used

> routinely. PCR assays can be performed directly on genomic DNA samples

> to detect translocation-specific malignant cells at a sensitivity which

> is at least 10,000 fold higher than other methods.

>

> PCR also permits identification of non-cultivatable or slow-growing

> microorganisms such as mycobacteria

> <http://health./wiki/Mycobacterium> , anaerobic bacteria

> <http://health./wiki/Anaerobic_organism> , or viruses

> <http://health./wiki/Virus> from tissue culture

> <http://health./wiki/Tissue_culture> assays. The basis

> for PCR diagnostic applications in microbiology is the detection of

> infectious agents and the discrimination of non-pathogenic from

> pathogenic strains by virtue of specific genes.

>

> Viral DNA can likewise be detected by PCR. The high sensitivity of PCR

> permits virus detection soon after infection and even before the onset

> of disease. Such early detection may give physicians a significant lead

> in treatment. The amount of virus ( " viral load

> <http://health./wiki/Viral_load> " ) in a patient can

> also be quantified by PCR-based DNA quantitation techniques.

>

> ~PH

>