The scientific community is using multiplexing on a daily basis to gain valuable insight into the world's most crucial issues. In diagnostic tests requiring multiple different targets to be detected, multiplexing offers a way to increase efficiency. Often, a quick and specific differential diagnosis is needed to confirm or rule out a number of potential pathogens responsible for a specific infection. Combined with reverse transcription, multiplex PCR and qPCR are also applicable in detecting several viral pathogens with RNA as genetic material. An example would be upper respiratory infections, where a number of viruses (eg. rhinovirus, influenza virus, human coronavirus) can cause similar and non-specific symptoms.
Malaria is a disease that is relevant in many parts of the world. Multiplex qPCR is a method that has shown its superior performance in achieving high-throughput screening of the disease. Additionally, its reduced cost makes it a desirable choice for epidemiological and surveillance studies.
A fast differentiation between bacterial and viral pathogens is also needed for an accurate treatment plan and improved patient outcomes for patients with pneumonia. Smaller organ groups, such as eyes or joints, also suffer from infections of different origins and a correct diagnosis is crucial for applying the correct therapy. To illustrate, Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and adenoviruses are the common causes of keratoconjunctivitis and a multiplex PCR reaction enables differentiation between them from just one conjunctival swab sample. The same principle applies to many other sample types, such as saliva, blood, and urine samples and their most common pathogens.
Many veterinary laboratories also benefit from multiplex PCR tests, as different bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections are no strangers to the zoological world. In the veterinary sector, diagnostic laboratories are often geographically far from the barns and stables, so samples often need to be shipped to testing facilities. Therefore, taking additional samples later may not be an option. Again, multiplex PCR enables the detection of various pathogens and markers from the same sample to get to the right diagnosis as fast as possible.
Multiplex PCR can be useful in many different fields. When working with plants, cell cultures, laboratory animals, microorganisms, diagnostics, or forensics, consider your options to make your road to data faster and more effective. Here at Solis BioDyne, we feel honored to be able to do our part and have our products as the tools of choice for key areas such as cancer research among others.
Solis BioDyne multiplex-ready probe-based qPCR Master Mixes:
For fast cycling speed and up to 5-plex reactions:
For standard cycling speed and up to 4-plex reactions:
By using the right product designed for multiplexing, you can rest assured you will enjoy similar sensitivity to singleplexing with a greatly reduced workload.
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Whenever you are planning to do a PCR experiment, whether it is end-point PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, or some other sort of PCR, you are going to need primers. Getting the right primers can be difficult and you can't just go and buy random primers either, you have to design them first.
