Question

How is PCR used to detect viral infections?

Answer 1

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):

1. It is a technique used in laboratories to rapidly-produce or amplify billions of copies of a specific sample of DNA.
2. By this process of amplification a large number of DNA copies are made to make its study easier.
3. The main principle behind the application of polymerase chain reaction is the use of the enzyme DNA polymerase for the in vitro replication of specific sequences of DNA.
4. Three major steps involved in the polymerase chain reaction are:

• Denaturation of templates to form single strands
• Synthesis of new DNA strands by annealing of primer to each original strand.
• Extension of new strands of DNA from the primers.

Use of PCR to detect viral infections:

1. PCR is a very impactful tool to determine even very small amounts of DNA or nucleic acids.
2. Even if the number of samples of nucleic acid is less than 10, it can easily be amplified using primers and detected.
3. Hence, real-time PCR is used to detect various viral infections, even when they are present in a very minute quantity.