Generation of labeled probes by PCR

Nucleic acid probes are an important tool in molecular diagnosis. To facilitate the detection of hybridized probes, they are labeled with a reporter molecule, which is usually a radioisotope. For diagnostic techniques carried out in a clinical laboratory, radioisotopes are hazardous and, thus, recently there is a move to use nonisotopic labels, such as biotin and digoxigenin. Nonisotopic probes also have the advantage of much better stability over time compared with isotopic probes that have limited half-lives.