Pathogen Detection and Surveillance Using Real Time PCR Technology Inside and Outside the Lab

 

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology-based testing method has been widely recognized as the golden standard for detecting infectious agents. Real‐time monitoring of PCR has further simplified and accelerated PCR laboratory procedures. It permits additional quantitative and differentiation information of amplification products that are important to clinical diagnostic applications with exquisite sensitivity and specificity.

 

Effective surveillance gives decision makers timely access to information and evidence to make decisions and laws about activities and the environment. This could include areas such as animal control, food handling, immunization programs, insect control, disease tracking, water purification, etc. Just like COVID-19 cases, if zoonotic and pathogenic agents are not detected quickly enough, the delay in risk mitigation measures will then trigger devastating outbreaks and lead to unmanageable mortality, morbidity, and direct/indirect financial losses.

 

Here, in this presentation, we would like to share with you the broad applications of PCR in public health microbiology, and the inspirational success stories that have been applying molecular testing outside a lab at workplaces to ensure health and safety, and maintain day-to-day business operations running uninterruptedly.

 

Learning Objectives