Resumen

POGGI M, Helena; GUZMAN D, Ana María; GARCIA C, Patricia  y  LAGOS L, Marcela. Universal or broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A contribution to the detection and identification of bacteria and fungi in clinical practice. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2009, vol.137, n.8, pp.1122-1125. ISSN 0034-9887.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872009000800020.

The use of techniques for the detection of nucleic acids such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has had a major impact on microbiological analysis, playing an important role in the clinical laboratory. Most of the techniques currently used are designed for specific detection of a particular microorganism. However, infectious agents can also be identified even if genus or species are unknown, using universal primers to amplify bacterial or fungal DNA and then identify the species by sequency (universal or wide spectrum PCR). This methodology is applied in cultures that are difficult to identify usingphenotypic techniques, and more recently it is also being used directly in clinical samples, where the detection and identification of the infectious agent by traditional techniques is difficult or not possible.

Palabras clave : Clinical laboratory techniques; Microbiology; Polymerase chain reaction.

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