PCR's Impact on Diagnostics and Healthcare 

The immediate and far-reaching implications of PCR cannot be overstated. Using PCR, scientists can take a specimen containing a minute amount of genetic material, copy a selected region from it over and over, and—within hours—generate a sample sufficient to perform a variety of tests.

PCR is very versatile. Many types of samples (blood, skin cells, saliva and hair, to name a few) can be analyzed for nucleic acids. The main criterion for any sample used for PCR is that it must contain the DNA strand encompassing the region to be amplified.

One of the first diagnostic applications of PCR was for the detection of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. PCR also helps doctors determine exactly how much of the HIV-1 virus is present in the blood of those who carry the disease. This can help them make vital decisions about treatment and monitor the patient’s response to that treatment.