Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies

Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies

Published on: May 22, 2012

A primer on on-demand polymerase chain reaction technology.

Maureen Spencer¹, Sue Barnes², Jorge Parada³

¹Universal Health Services Infection Prevention, Boston, MA.

American Journal of Infection Control

|July 23, 2015

Summary

On-demand polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology offers accurate pathogen identification for targeted therapy, significantly impacting health care-associated infections (HAIs) and improving patient outcomes. This technology is crucial for modern infection control and antibiotic stewardship.

Area of Science:

Medical Microbiology
Molecular Diagnostics
Health Services Research

Background:

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) pose a growing threat due to antimicrobial resistance and economic impacts.
New legislation emphasizes the urgency of combating HAIs.
Current infection control education often lacks comprehensive coverage of advanced diagnostic technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce on-demand polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.
To explain the technology's role in combating HAIs.
To highlight the technology's broad impact on healthcare.

Main Methods:

Review of on-demand PCR technology principles.
Analysis of PCR's influence on infection control metrics.
Discussion of PCR's economic implications in healthcare settings.

Main Results:

On-demand PCR enables accurate, efficient pathogen identification at the point of care.
This technology positively influences HAI rates, patient outcomes, and hospital resource utilization.
PCR impacts antibiotic stewardship and healthcare economics.

Conclusions:

On-demand PCR is a powerful tool for reducing HAIs and improving healthcare.
Wider adoption of PCR technology in infection control education is recommended.
Understanding PCR's capabilities is essential for effective HAI management.

Keywords:

Antimicrobial stewardship Clostridium difficile HAI Health care–associated infection Infection control Infection prevention MRSA On-demand PCR PCR PCR testing

More Related Videos

Single Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction for Comprehensive and Simultaneous Detection of Mutations in Hotspot Regions

Single Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction for Comprehensive and Simultaneous Detection of Mutations in Hotspot Regions

Published on: September 25, 2018

Development of a Quantitative Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay with an Internal Positive Control

Development of a Quantitative Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay with an Internal Positive Control

Published on: March 30, 2015

Related Concept Videos

PCR

PCR

PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction

PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction

Real Time RT-PCR

Real Time RT-PCR

Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, or Real-time RT-PCR, is an analytical tool used to determine the expression level of target genes. The method involves converting mRNA to complementary DNA with the help of an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, followed by the PCR amplification of the cDNA. These two processes can be performed simultaneously in a single tube or separately as a two-step reaction.
The real-time quantification of the number of amplified products is...

DNA Isolation

DNA Isolation

DNA isolation protocols can be fast and straightforward or complex and time-consuming depending on the type and quality of DNA required for further processing. For example, plasmid DNA extraction is a bit more complicated than genomic DNA extraction because of the need for an appropriate lysis method to separate plasmid DNA from gDNA during isolation. However, for specific applications, such as long-range DNA sequencing that require a good yield of high- quality DNA samples, we need to follow...

Next-generation Sequencing

Next-generation Sequencing

The first human genome sequencing project cost $2.7 billion and was declared complete in 2003, after 15 years of international cooperation and collaboration between several research teams and funding agencies. Today, with the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, the cost and time of sequencing a human genome have dropped over 100 fold.
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features....

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Baroreflex Activation Therapy In Heart Failure-the Barostim-Enabled Neurohormonal Intervention for Improving Treatment of Heart Failure (BENEFIT-HF) Trial Rationale and Design.

Journal of cardiac failure·2026

Assessment of student confidence, knowledge, and attitudes after use of interactive computer modules in a university-level cardiovascular physiology course.

Advances in physiology education·2026

Development of word and syllable structure in Chilean children with typical and protracted phonological development.

Frontiers in psychology·2026

Visual Tools for Informed Decision-Making in Large-Core Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke (Hoboken, N.J.)·2026

TESLA Trial: Rationale, Protocol, and Design.

Stroke (Hoboken, N.J.)·2026

PICASSO (Proximal Internal Carotid Artery Acute Stroke Secondary to Tandem Lesion or Local Occlusion) Thrombectomy Randomized Trial: Study Protocol and Rationale.

Stroke (Hoboken, N.J.)·2026

See all related articles