Advantages of PCR Testing

PCR offers significant advantages over standard culture tests, being faster, more sensitive, and more accurate. It provides a wealth of meaningful data without sacrificing speed. For instance, our UTI and Wound Panels can detect fungi, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and resistance genes, while also offering CDC and FDA-supported treatment guidance, all within 12 to 24 hours. Standard culture tests simply cannot match this efficiency.

Stark Diagnostics’ RPP Panel enables physicians to detect 36 viral, bacterial, and fungal targets, including 4 resistance genes. Unlike culture tests, PCR results are not influenced by a technician’s skill or the time required for bacterial growth in a culture dish, leading to more comprehensive and accurate data with quicker turnaround times. Explore more about our STI, Women’s Health, and Nail Fungal Panels.

PCR is a rapid and cost-effective technique used to amplify small segments of DNA. The amplified DNA can then be utilized in various laboratory procedures, such as those employed in the Human Genome Project (HGP). PCR is invaluable in infectious disease applications, enabling the detection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

This method swiftly identifies mixed, mono, and polymicrobial infections, along with gene resistance markers. PCR allows for rapid and highly specific diagnosis of infectious diseases, including those caused by non-cultivatable or slow-growing microorganisms like mycobacteria, anaerobic bacteria, or viruses.