Feasibility determination for use of polymerase chain reaction in the U.S. Air Force Air-Transportable Hospital Field Environment : Lessons learned

At present, the use of molecular probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the identification of microorganisms in body fluids or tissues is becoming more commonplace. There is an added advantage when serological or culture methods are difficult, expensive, or unavailable. Slow-growing or fasti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2000-11, Vol.165 (11), p.816-820
Main Authors: NIEMEYER, Debra M, JAFFE, Richard I, WIGGINS, Lowell B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Aerospace Medicine
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
DNA, Bacterial - blood
Feasibility Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic engineering
Genetic technics
Genetic testing
Hospitals
Hospitals, Military
Humans
Identification
In vitro gene amplification. Pcr technique
Infectious diseases
Laboratories
Laboratories, Hospital
Methods. Procedures. Technologies
Microorganisms
Mobile Health Units
Molecular biology
Performance evaluation
Phlebotomy
Polymerase chain reaction
Polymerase Chain Reaction - utilization
United States
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Summary:At present, the use of molecular probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the identification of microorganisms in body fluids or tissues is becoming more commonplace. There is an added advantage when serological or culture methods are difficult, expensive, or unavailable. Slow-growing or fastidious microorganisms, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spirochetes, viruses, and the dimorphic fungi, can be detected rapidly using these techniques. The presence of different chromosomal or plasmid-mediated antibiotic-resistant markers can also be determined. PCR is an extremely powerful tool that has been applied to research, and more recently it has been used to augment standard clinical applications. It is a very simple process that can amplify nucleic acid sequences, both DNA and RNA, a million times over. The sensitivity, rapidity, broad applicability, and compactness of this technology make it an ideal candidate for use in the military arena. We recently established a molecular biology laboratory at a Deployable Medical System at the Camp Parks Army Reserve Training Facility in Dublin, California. This article will briefly summarize the use of PCR and its applicability in the air-transportable hospital field environment. Proper handling, processing, and testing as well as the requirements for setting up a molecular biology laboratory will be discussed. Finally, the benefits and disadvantages of using PCR-based techniques in the deployed field environment will be considered.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.1093/milmed/165.11.816